How did I get here?

I blame The Venom Group.  Specifically, I blame the Venom Micro Rescue… and a parental unit.

Look at it.  It’s just a little guy.  Seems harmless.  Almost cute. Well, it is cute… or was.  Part of me curses it everyday as I walk by the desk on which it sits.  I curse it not for the moments of fun and a near child-like excitement it gave me.  I curse it for the addiction it gave me.

I now must tap the RC vein and shoot-up on a near daily basis.

Hmm, I digress, unfortunately.  I shouldn’t blame just the helicopter.  I should blame my father.  A few months back, let’s say around March of 2009, my parents went to a local auto show around the Omaha, Nebraska area.  They happened to spot a curse wielding gypsy man with a table full of these little guys.  The mother asks the father, “Honey, why don’t you get one? It’s only 20 dollars.”  Turns out the booth-keeper bought out one of our Kay-Bee toy chains and was at the car show to unload his smack get rid of some inventory.

Now, my father will tell you he remembers the days when his helicopters and airplanes weren’t radio controlled, but tethered, forcing you to spin it around your head and up to get any air, or having the unfortunate sibling pulling on a cord.

I was spared those days of toys, but to give credit to nostalgia, I do remember having a few radio controlled cars that went forward in a somewhat straight line, and only turned in reverse.

So, seeing these little helis spin around the booth-keep’s head tickled my father’s fancy enough to purchase one.  The mother asked the father if the son would be interested in one.  The father figured not, thinking the son had mentally put away those childish things.  Turns out the father was wrong.  It’s not often he’ll admit it, so I must state this again.

The father was wrong.

Fast-forward a week or two later.  I stop by my parent’s house on a semi-regular basis, and as I crossed the threshold and went up the stairs, I see this little helicopter sitting on the landing.  I asked my father when he picked up a little model helicopter.  Wait… it’s not a model?  It actually flies?

An hour later and we’re still banging the little thing into the ceiling, torturing the dog, the mother, the kitchen lights, and the food on the stove.

So, I blame the Venom Group.  I also blame my father.  Within that first week I had purchased my own.  My cat still hasn’t forgiven me.

Am I shirking responsibility for my own actions?  You bet.  I’m totally blaming other people for getting me into this hobby.  I’ve been enjoying laying down the blame and my new addiction ever since.

What is Hover and Smile?

This site serves as a personal gallery, resource, and journal of my entry into the RC Helicopter hobby and related experiments.  As I’m learning how certain things work, trying out new ideas, and generally not trying to crash, I’ll be recording articles, updating photo and video galleries and sharing links.  Perhaps some of this information will help you as well!

If you’re really that curious about who I am… here’s a picture of my ugly mug:

I started this site in the summer of 2009.  Born in 1976, I’m an old soul, working primarily in software development.

The other occasional contributor to this site, my father, Rick Krystof, a.k.a. ‘He who I blame for getting me into this hobby’ and my mother, Carol Krystof:

Over time, I started doing some combat with foam planes, some other helicopters, and even some night flying.  As long as there is something different and new for me to explore in this hobby, I’ll be here!

Here we go… Legal Blurbs!

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by Eric R. Krystof/Hover And Smile and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no
representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Hover and Smile. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.

Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, Eric R. Krystof/Hover and Smile take no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.

Basically… if you hurt yourself, others, or destroy things based on what you learned from this site or correspondence with me… Fair warning, you are on your own, don’t blame me.  Take anything here and use it at your own risk.