See which MSFS 2020 and 2024 aircraft have weather radar, how to set WX, range, tilt and gain, and why the display can remain blank.
Weather radar is available mainly in Microsoft Flight Simulator airliners, larger turboprops and business jets, but support depends on the simulator version and aircraft package. Common examples include the A320neo, A330, 737 MAX, 747-8, 787-10, Citation Longitude and TBM 930. Select WX/WXR on the navigation display, then adjust range and tilt.
Which Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft have weather radar?
The main MSFS aircraft to check are modern airliners and selected aircraft with integrated Garmin or similar avionics. Availability varies by simulator, edition and aircraft update, so these are common examples rather than a permanent guarantee that every variant has a working implementation.
| Aircraft or family | MSFS availability | Radar presentation |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320neo | MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 | Weather returns appear on the navigation display; operation varies between the stock aircraft and add-on versions. |
| Airbus A330 family | MSFS 2024 | Navigation-display overlay controlled through the weather-radar and display panels. |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | MSFS 2024 | WXR overlay on the navigation display, with range and antenna controls. |
| Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental | MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 | Weather overlay on the navigation display when WXR is selected. |
| Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner | Versions and editions that include the aircraft | Navigation-display weather overlay; the controls depend on the installed aircraft revision. |
| Citation Longitude and TBM 930 | Versions and editions that include them | Weather is selected through the integrated flight deck or multifunction display. |
| Third-party airliners and business aircraft | Installed add-on dependent | May use native MSFS weather, a developer-built system or an inoperative representation. |
An aircraft having a weather-radar panel in real life does not prove that its simulated counterpart supports it. Some cockpit switches are cosmetic, and an add-on may implement radar in MSFS 2024 but not in its MSFS 2020 version. Our MSFS 2024 weather-radar operating guide covers the newer simulator in greater detail.
How do I use weather radar in MSFS?
Power the avionics, select the radar as the weather source, display the WX overlay and scan the precipitation by changing range and antenna tilt.
- Create suitable weather. Radar needs precipitation to produce useful returns; ordinary cloud layers may leave the display blank. Use Live Weather or build a custom rain cell using the simulator's weather controls. Our guide to setting Live Weather, presets and custom conditions explains the available options.
- Power and align the aircraft. Turn on the required electrical buses and avionics. In an airliner, the navigation displays may also require the inertial-reference system to be aligned before the overlay can be positioned correctly.
- Select the radar system. Move the weather-radar control from OFF or STBY to WX, WXR or the equivalent operating mode. For realistic operation, leave it in standby while parked and follow the aircraft's own procedure.
- Enable the display overlay. Select WXR or WEATHER on the navigation display, multifunction display or avionics weather page. Some Airbus displays show radar in ARC or ROSE NAV modes but not in PLAN mode; our guide to the A320 navigation display and cockpit controls identifies the relevant panels.
- Choose a useful range. Start around a medium range so that nearby cells are visible without losing the larger weather pattern. Shorten the range when approaching a cell and increase it when planning a diversion around a wider system.
- Set gain to automatic or calibrated. AUTO or CAL is the sensible starting point. Excessively low manual gain can hide precipitation; excessive gain can fill the display with weak returns.
- Adjust antenna tilt. At low altitude, begin near level or slightly upward. At cruise altitude, scan progressively downward to find precipitation below the aircraft. Do not leave tilt at one setting: a beam aimed above or below a storm produces an apparently clear display.
- Keep scanning. Change both range and tilt as the aircraft climbs, descends or closes on weather. No single tilt value works at every altitude and distance.
What do the weather-radar colours mean?
The colours represent radar reflectivity, which usually corresponds to precipitation intensity rather than cloud thickness.
- Green normally indicates lighter returns.
- Yellow or amber indicates stronger precipitation requiring caution.
- Red represents heavy returns that should be avoided.
- Magenta, where implemented, marks the strongest return or another display-specific hazard category.
Colour scales vary slightly between avionics packages. Radar also does not make a red cell safe to penetrate: use it to plan avoidance. A dark area behind an intense return may be radar shadow or attenuation rather than a genuine gap, although MSFS aircraft do not all simulate that effect.
Why is my MSFS weather radar blank?
A blank display usually means there is no simulated precipitation, the radar overlay is disabled, or the antenna is pointed away from the weather.
- Cloud but no precipitation: test with a custom rain or storm preset rather than relying on visible cloud alone.
- Radar left in standby: check both the radar control panel and the display's WX overlay selection.
- Wrong display mode: switch from PLAN or another unsupported mode to ARC, MAP or NAV as appropriate.
- Incorrect tilt: sweep the antenna through several angles instead of assuming zero degrees will find every cell.
- Manual gain too low: return it to AUTO or CAL.
- Unsuitable range: try several map ranges; weather may be outside the selected scale or hidden too close to the aircraft symbol.
- Incomplete aircraft implementation: a functional-looking panel may not drive a radar display in that package or simulator version.
- Add-on problem: confirm that the aircraft is updated and configured for the installed MSFS version. For that specific airliner, use our Fenix A320 radar and blank-display checks.
Is NEXRAD the same as onboard weather radar?
NEXRAD or datalink weather is not the same as an aircraft's onboard weather radar. Datalink weather is a delayed, wide-area mosaic delivered to the avionics, while onboard radar scans ahead of the aircraft and lets the pilot alter antenna tilt and gain.
A Garmin weather page labelled NEXRAD, datalink or satellite weather therefore may work differently from a page labelled weather radar. Use datalink information for strategic planning, not close-range cell penetration, and do not expect its picture to react when you move a radar tilt control.