Balloon Boy: Was There Enough Helium in the Flying Saucer Shaped Balloon?

I'm writing from the perspective that anyone stumbling upon this post knows the background to this story.

 

I must admit being overly intrigued by the story.  Once the balloon landed, I started having general thoughts on whether there was even enough total helium to lift a small boy, not to even mention take him to heights of 8000 feet.

 

Turns out, others are thinking and posting on the same thing.  A few links (unverified information, but a good place to start narrowing in on the answer):

 

http://liveatthewitchtrials.blogspot.com/2009/10/boy-in-balloon-did-balloon-have-enough.html

 

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/10/why-falcon-henne-was-never-really-balloon-boy/

 

My own general thought was comparing the visible size of the saucer and 'guesstimating' the equivalent number of helium filled party balloons - would there be enough lift?  I began to have doubts.

 

One of those links above indicates there would have been theoretically enough helium to lift a 50 lb boy, but they noted there should have been some sort of distortion of the otherwise soft profile while in flight - much like a weather balloon.  Such a distortion was not present - but that's an observation made in hindsight.

 

I have a chemical engineer friend who might be looking into this further for me. He did make a point, however, that when considering equal volumes of helium and hot air, that the helium has much more lift.  (Think of two balloons, one inflated with helium, one with naturally forced exhalation of breath.  One floats.)

 

Just some thoughts and links.