Almost ready to fly

A replica Supermarine Spitfire built of traditional balsa/ply construction - a typical example of an almost ready to fly model

This all-foam model comes completely unassembled, but the low parts count still denotes it as an ARF

An almost ready to fly (ARF or ARTF) kit is a radio-controlled airplane kit that comes partially built, usually just requiring final assembly to complete. They normally include partially assembled wings, along with a fuselage and stabilizers already pre-covered in plastic film sheeting material such as Ultracote or Monokote. The remaining assembly steps usually include the installation of control linkages and surfaces, and the purchase and installation of an engine or electric propulsion system and radio gear.

Though most require full assembly, many injection molded foam kits such as the Grand Wing Servo-Tech Formosa are considered to be almost ready to fly due to the low parts count.

Depending on the complexity of the model, this can take only an hour or as many as twenty hours to complete.

See also

• Ready to Fly (radio control)
• List of RC aircraft kit manufacturers
• Knock-down kit (full-size vehicles)