What is the straight-and-level altitude record for a heavier-than-air winged/lifting-body aircraft?
As of writing this, the official (as verified by FAI) &quot;altitude in horizontal flight&quot; category record goes to the SR-71 on 28 Jul 1976 at an altitude of 25 929 m (85 069 ft).
Second place is 24 463 m (80 259 ft) in a YF-12A, and third place is 22 670 m (74 377 ft) in a E-166 (modified Ye-152).

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