The pilot of a modified Cessna 172 did set a new altitude record for this aircraft type on the 1st of April 2010, reaching flight level 6600. No typo, this is really flight level six-six-zero-zero. The pilot / engineer modified the aircraft’s systems to make it compatible with space flight.
The initial goal was flight level 6000, but as everything was fine, the ground crew gave its go for further climb. The sole incident was a violation of the SFR (space flight rules) minimal separation with the space shuttle coming back from the international space station.
Hat tip to Axel Smidt for the information.
And kudos to Axel as well for the nice photoshop job. If you doubt, check the date of this “record”.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Haha, extraordinarily strong thermals over Florida that day!!
…Well, and now the truth: The Cessna wing was photographed by me during a flight….however the background was originally slightly different (Beautiful Florida scenery)
The picture of the space shuttle is from a big poster covering one of the walls at my former flight school in Florida. I pointed my camera at the poster, pushed the release button and after a little computer magic I had the “evidence” of an unusually interesting flight. 
In case any of you ever wondered….yes, pictures CAN lie!!!
A Great Picture, and terrific timing! Imagine the chances of getting the space shuttle in the frame going from left to right at a jillion miles per hour only 150 meters out the starboard window of a C-172 going from right to left at 120 knots indicated! Excellent photography!