He spent his youth in Vladikavkas, North Ossetia; entered Soviet Air Force in 1947 and graduated from pilot school, Armavir, 1951; then he became instructor pilot, since 1957 Air Force Reserve; 1958 he graduated from Test Pilot School and 1968 from Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI); he flew as test pilot E-166 and MiG-25 jets; he held several world records (incl. one absolute); during the EPOS "Spiral"-Program (May 1976 - September 1978) he performed five testflights; Hero of the Soviet Union, 1971; served as engineer at OKB Mikyan; he currently lives in Zhukovsky.