The Hero of the Soviet Union, test pilot of the USSR, colonel. Born August 8, 1948 in city of Taganrog of the Rostov area. In 1970 graduated from Eyesk Military Aviation School. Pilot-instructor in the same school: 1970-1977. In the Army reserve since 1977.In 1978 graduated from the test pilots School. 1980 graduated from Moscow Aviation Institute.
December 1978 through October 1980 - test-pilot at Flight Research Institute named after M.M. Gromov in Zhukovsky.Carried out a line of tests on MiG-23, MiG-25, Su-15, Su-24, Tu-16LL.
1980 - 2001 test-pilot of Sukhoy Design Bureau.
First took to the skies Su-27K and Su-27KUB.
Test flew Su-25, Su-27, Su-33, Su-35, Su-34. On November 1-st, 1989 landed Su-27K on Russian aircraft carrier for the first time in USSR history.
Mr. Pugachev set 12 World Records on Su-27 between 1986 and 1993.
On April 28, 1989 first in the World performed Cobra maneuver on Su-27.
Currently lives in Zhukovsky town of the Moscow region. Works as chief pilot-designer at Sukhoi Design Bureau.