As the name implies, these drone require little fuss. Generally, they come fully assembled, though they may require the assembly of some parts. Still, it is easy to find a drone that requires little more effort than turning it on and watching it go.
These drones are suitable for beginners and intermediate fliers. And while intermediate fliers may be itching to build their own drone, the standardization is a blessing in disguise. It is a very different thing to know how to fly a drone with precision and skill and knowing how to build one that can compete at the highest levels of competition.
Another major advantage RTF drones provide beginners and intermediate fliers is a greatly reduced price tag. Drones built from scratch with the best components can easily reach over $1000. Unless you have buckets of disposable income sitting around or know for a fact that this will be a part of your life for years to come, it is best not to make such an investment.
For the intermediate flier who will not be reasoned, there are different degrees of pre-built drones that allow you to customize or upgrade their components a little at a time. This allows you become familiar and skilled with the increasing capabilities of a more advanced drone over a period of time. The performance between a solid RTF drone and a top of the line ATF drone can be stark, and a flier who is not yet ready can easily crash thousands of dollars into the dirt.
Assemble-to-Fly (ATF) Racing Drones:
Once you have mastered the art of flying drone with exceptional speed and maneuverability, the next step is to learn how to customize one and push your skills even further. The only way to do this is by building your own drone. However, the knowledge necessary to accomplish this task is vastly different than what you need to know to fly. It is entirely possible that someone could fly a sponsored ATF drone without knowing how to build it themselves.
Of course, at the highest levels of competition, even minor adjustments can mean the difference between first and second. If a flier has a top of the line drone that they do not understand on a component level, they may very well be losing seconds because the drone is not perfectly tuned to their style of flight.
That is why the best fliers in the most competitive leagues generally learn all there is to know about drones and build their own. Unfortunately, this requires multiple types of investment: time, effort, and money. The first two can often be found if you are dedicated enough, but the last will almost always be a concern. Specifically, there is never enough. That is why the best fliers pore over the parts of their machines and ensure that every dollar spent is spent wisely.
Below is an example of an ATF drone starter kit
