We've all seen the how-low-can-you-get piccys over the years and that competition is definitely over, but what about How High? NOT attempting to compare/compete with the real high flyers (Frightening, Vulcan, PR9 etc etc.) but solely in the context of this thread: On 20 Dec. 1978 I got the ground hogger to 52,500 ft which I'm sure was a record at the time but may well not be now, any later claim? . I reckon you need a high tropopause (which will give you clue to location) and, of course, a clean jet - at v. least pylons only no tanks or stores, not sure about wing tip missiles - long after my time. Actually she was climbing well in full reheat at indicated M1.03ish (with the fuel flow indications back on-scale!) and would surely have kept going for several more kilofeet had I not forgotten to de-select autoslat - AoA went up (I forget the numbers now) out popped the slats, up went the drag - instantly subsonic and one engine went out! Game over but enlivened an otherwise boring high level transit. For two bonus points, from where to where? Guesses welcome, answer next week.
(And just before any smart alec points it out : yes I know it was outside the release to service envelope which, from memory, was about losing the canopy, associated "suck" and pressure breathing - which I don't think we had.)