He was born on September 2, 1956, and completed his education at the "Communism" school in the village of Törtkül.
“In school, we had a wonderful teacher named Üsön, who inspired us to model airplanes, organized rocket-building clubs, and took us to competitions. It was thanks to him that I became interested in this field,” shares Kamchybek, reminiscing.
After finishing school, he dreamed of enrolling in a flight school, but he was not accepted due to heart problems, which turned out to be a lie.
Ultimately, he received a diploma in the repair of television and radio equipment and was then drafted into the Soviet army, where he served in Orenburg. In 1980, he got married and, together with his wife, raised five children: four sons and a daughter. Upon returning to his native village, he found support for his passion among his fellow villagers.
“In Kaji-Sai, there lived a German named Laur Hertzen, who worked at a factory and was also passionate about aviation. He introduced us to hang gliding, and at that time I dreamed of my own airplane. Now, after 70 years, my dream has come true thanks to his son Herman, who helped me find the parts, and together we assembled the airplane. We ordered components from the Moscow region, and the assembly took about a year,” Chotoev recounts.
The cost of the airplane was about $35,000, which he saved by setting aside his pension and selling livestock and agricultural products. Now he aims to undergo training to realize his dream of flying.
“To operate the airplane, it is necessary to undergo training at a specialized educational institution in Bishkek. If I receive a certificate and permission to fly, I will start flying,” Kamchybek shared his plans.
He also emphasized the importance of creating takeoff and landing sites, as well as hangars, which could help train the youth. This would also be beneficial for agriculture.
The weight of the airplane is 250 kilograms, and it can accommodate three passengers. The total weight with fuel reaches approximately 500 kilograms, and a round trip to Bishkek will require about 80 liters of gasoline. The airplane is capable of climbing to an altitude of up to 4,000 meters.
“The airplane is also safe for landing. If the fuel runs out or the engine fails, it can land smoothly thanks to autorotation. It will be useful in agriculture for spraying chemicals on fields, as well as for border protection. It can reach places that neither a person nor a horse can access. It will also help in servicing power lines and combating illegal gravel extraction,” added Chotoev.
Kamchybek is confident that operating a small airplane is quite simple—much easier than a helicopter. “For someone who knows how to drive a car, one or two trial flights will be enough to get the hang of it,” he believes.
He was inspired by Soyuzbek Saliev, who flew around the world in his airplane. “When he came to Issyk-Kul, I invited him to my home, and he landed right on the asphalt. After talking to him, it became even clearer to me that I want to realize my childhood dream,” Kamchybek shares his memories.
In addition to the airplane, he created a drilling rig that can extract water from a depth of 80–90 meters. Now his children provide water supply services to local residents. Kamchybek also assembled a steamboat and is currently working on its finishing.
“I love technology and am passionate about inventions. In addition, I assembled tractors that we use for land cultivation and built mini-hydroelectric power stations,” he says.
Kamchybek Chotoev is one of five children in the family, and all of them have been interested in technology since childhood.
