The NASA DC-8 aircraft has a comprehensive instrument payload and is credited with: detailed fire plume sampling measuring over 200 trace gas species, as well as aerosol microphysical, optical, and chemical properties.  Aerosol microphysical, optical, and chemical properties were also observed and the spacecraft completed 23 flights.  
The NASA ER-2 worked partially in support of the FIREX-AQ effort, the payload was made up of 8 satellite analog instruments and provided critical information to the investigation regarding the fires. This information included: fire temperature, fire plume height, and soil albedo information. The grounded instrumentation provided measurements of aerosol microphysical and optical properties, chemical compositions, and trace gas species.