(from my adventure log: "With Teamwork, it is Ready To Rise", November 23, 2002 7:45am Finally, it is nearly upright and fully filled with air! The bank's website features facts about their hot air balloon program. I learned this balloon is indeed heavy, for it weighs 850 pounds! It takes 160,000 cubic feet of hot air to fill this beauty! As can be imagined, it takes a crew of 20-25 people to get it aloft.