With any hobby there is an up front cost that is not avoidable. In the world of RC "remote control" there is a few things to consider before you can tear the skies up or go bashing your RC car, boat, and RC aircraft. Today we will go over what it takes to up in the air to fly or drive. There is terms that all need to know in order to not get confused.
Lets start with terms. When it comes to our aircraft there is a few different levels of build and what is required to get going. 
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- Kit: Typically this is just the vehicle with out any electronics and motor. Also no radio or receiver. This is across the board for RC helicopters, drones, quads and planes.
- A.R.F. or ARR: Stands for "almost ready to fly" or with boats and surface vehicles "almost ready to run." This group usually has the air-frame with some electronics but no radio and receiver. This group is a little wired because what you get differs from who the seller is or who the manufacturer is.
- P.N.P. : This stands for "plug and play." For this level of build it contains all electronics and motor except for a receiver, battery, charger, and transmitter.
- RTR: RTR stands for "ready to run." This group typically everything you need but not always. Has a remote, receiver, power system for gas or electric, servos, and batteries. Keep in mind most RTR does not include batteries for the radio. Sometimes it does not include the main battery or radio.
Any time you buy a hobby grade RC product keep in mind that they all have slight differences to what you get. So the list above can very and is not definitive. If it is unclear what your are getting with your purchase it is always a good idea to ask what is included. Also, ask what is needed to get your RC vehicle up in running. Keep in mind that kits are typically way less then a RTR. So be aware that on the above list the more complete a product is equipped the more expensive it will be.
There is other terms to think about too! Some of the other common terms to know are as follows:
- Transmitter: This refers to the radio you control the vehicle with. Also commonly called "radio" or "controller."
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- Receiver: This refers to the part that has antennas on the vehicle. It receives signals from the radio and then tells the vehicle what to do.
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- Servo: This refers to a part that is used to move you steering, throttle, and control surfaces on aircraft. It is typically a electric motor with gears and a control board. The servos receive from the receiver what to do.
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With RC air-craft it is important to start out with a product aimed at the beginner at mind. Typically for RC airplanes the manufacturer sells planes geared to the newcomer/beginner. For RC heli's and quads they sale beginner models as well. Though I am no expert to anybody new to RC aircraft or returning from a hiatus from it I would recommend product that is sold and built with the beginner in mind. I have covered a lot of info in this article. Do not let it over whelm you. If questions arise YouTube is a good resource to look into. Also, many websites that sell RC aircraft have message boards for question and help. I am a resource too. I can be messaged in the comments or through email per request. Even if I do not have an answer I will get an answer for you. Just keep in mind when I have to find an answer it will take some time to get the answer. Another thing to be aware is requirements for flying in the air with local, state and federal government to follow as well. We will cover this in a later article.
In conclusion, RC aircraft can be a lot of fun but can be challenging. Crashes happen to even experts. So keep in mind that crashes happen a lot and especially at first. I hope the information I have shared sheds light on the overwhelming world of RC aircraft and all the acronyms that most are not used to hearing.
With RC air-craft it is important to start out with a product aimed at the beginner at mind. Typically for RC airplanes the manufacturer sells planes geared to the newcomer/beginner. For RC heli's and quads they sale beginner models as well. Though I am no expert to anybody new to RC aircraft or returning from a hiatus from it I would recommend product that is sold and built with the beginner in mind. I have covered a lot of info in this article. Do not let it over whelm you. If questions arise YouTube is a good resource to look into. Also, many websites that sell RC aircraft have message boards for question and help. I am a resource too. I can be messaged in the comments or through email per request. Even if I do not have an answer I will get an answer for you. Just keep in mind when I have to find an answer it will take some time to get the answer. Another thing to be aware is requirements for flying in the air with local, state and federal government to follow as well. We will cover this in a later article.
In conclusion, RC aircraft can be a lot of fun but can be challenging. Crashes happen to even experts. So keep in mind that crashes happen a lot and especially at first. I hope the information I have shared sheds light on the overwhelming world of RC aircraft and all the acronyms that most are not used to hearing.
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