The idea that a Lightning could do anything useful at 88,000 feet is preposterous!
At that height it was merely following a ballistic path at the apex of its' trajectory and the only thing that it was able to do was follow the curve earthwords.
An amazing machine for a prototype turned into a front line fighter but it had severe limitations in its' weapons system and I for one was pleased to move on to the Phantom with a much more capable weapons system and not dissimilar performance clean wing.
Just to put the Lightnings' high altitude capability into perspective, the safety equipment fit for the Phantom included a partial pressure suit to go with the rest of the ensemble used for high altitude in the Lightning. This gave an increased survival capability and raised the service ceiling well above that of the Lightning - but not to anything like 88,000 feet.
Reminiscing is one thing but exaggeration is the job of politicians not professional aviators.