Each cubic foot in a hot air balloon can lift about 7 grams. To lift 1,000 pounds, you would need 65,000 cubic feet of hot air, which is part of why hot air balloons are so big, according to an ...

A hot-air balloon crash in Santa Catarina, Brazil, killed eight people after catching fire mid-flight, with 13 survivors, including the pilot, who were hospitalized with unknown injuries.

Millions of visitors flock to about 200 balloon festivals across the U.S. each year. Volunteering on balloon crews lets some of those fans pursue the inflatable dream.