MSFS aircraft

MSFS Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS)

Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) brings the iconic radar-dome command aircraft to Microsoft Flight Simulator with a rebuilt high-detail exterior, a polished airliner-style virtual cockpit, and authentic engine audio options. Functional cargo and crew doors, updated textures and liveries including French and RAF variants, plus optional smoke effects and creative loadout details round out the package.

5/5 (3) 4.5k downloads 1.03 GB Scanned clean

Flight Simulator 2020

Images & Screenshots

60 total

A large four-engine military aircraft with a distinctive black radar dome flies above a forested landscape with mountains and a lake.

An airborne early warning aircraft with a large radar dome flies over a patchwork of fields, roads, and residential areas at sunset.

A white NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft with a large radar dome is taxiing on a runway near a tree-lined airport.

A large white NATO surveillance aircraft with a distinctive radar dome is taxiing toward a runway near an airport control tower.

A white NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft with a distinctive radar dome is taxiing onto a runway at a large airport.

A NATO E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft with a large radar dome is positioned on a runway near several hangars and grassy areas.

A large four-engine aircraft with a distinctive radar dome is parked on a textured runway near several low airport buildings.

A NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft with a large radar dome flies above farmland and residential areas under a partly cloudy sky.

A NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft with four engines and a large radar dome sits on a textured airport ramp at sunrise.

A NATO E-3 Sentry aircraft with a distinctive radar dome flies over a patchwork of green and brown farmland at sunset.

A large four-engine military aircraft with a prominent radar dome taxis on a runway under a partly cloudy sky.

A large white military aircraft with a distinctive radar dome on top is parked on a runway under partly cloudy skies.

A large four-engine aircraft with a prominent radar dome approaches a runway for landing over dry, brown terrain under scattered clouds.

A NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft with a distinctive radar dome is parked on a taxiway near hangars and tree-lined surroundings.

A large military surveillance aircraft with a distinctive radar dome is positioned on a runway under partly cloudy skies and dry grass surroundings.

A detailed cockpit view shows multiple avionics displays, throttle levers, and overhead switches with a pilot seat and yoke visible.

A large military aircraft with a distinctive radar dome flies above forested terrain and a lake under scattered clouds and blue sky.

A four-engine jet aircraft climbs after takeoff above dry grass and trees, leaving dark exhaust trails against a partly cloudy sky.

A military surveillance aircraft with a large radar dome flies above green mountains and approaches thick, dramatic cloud formations.

A large four-engine military aircraft with a distinctive radar dome flies above scattered orange-tinged clouds and mountainous terrain at sunset.

A cockpit jumpseat area features a gray pilot seat, overhead panel switches, a dark monitor, and a closed cockpit door.

A large white aircraft with a distinctive radar dome and four engines is parked on the tarmac near an airport control tower.

A large military aircraft with a radar dome flies above dense green forest and dramatic white clouds under a bright blue sky.

An airborne early warning aircraft with a large radar dome flies above scattered clouds and a snow-capped mountain at sunset.

A white four-engine military aircraft with a large radar dome on top flies above scattered clouds and green terrain below.

A large four-engine surveillance aircraft with a distinctive radar dome flies above scattered golden clouds during sunset or sunrise.

A gray military aircraft with a large radar dome on its fuselage flies above scattered clouds and a landscape partially visible below.

A four-engine airborne early warning aircraft with a large radar dome flies above scattered clouds over a green landscape at sunset.

A NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft with a large radar dome flies above scattered clouds during a golden hour sky.

A large military surveillance aircraft with a dorsal radar dome banks over mountainous terrain at sunset, with visible lens flare.

A large four-engine military aircraft with a distinctive radar dome banks above a landscape at sunset under a clear sky.

A military surveillance aircraft with a large radar dome flies above mountainous terrain during a hazy sunrise or sunset.

A military surveillance aircraft with a large radar dome flies above green terrain and dense clouds under a partly sunny sky.

A NATO surveillance aircraft with a large radar dome flies above scattered clouds at sunset, with sunlight reflecting off its fuselage.

A cockpit side panel features a dark seat, a yellow and red emergency tool, and a blank display screen with clouds outside.

A commercial jet cockpit displays active primary flight displays, navigation screens, engine instruments, and autopilot controls with both yokes visible.

A four-engine military aircraft with a large radar dome flies above scattered clouds during a sunrise or sunset at high altitude.

A four-engine military surveillance aircraft with a large radar dome flies above dense orange clouds during sunset or sunrise.

A white NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft with a large radar dome flies above scattered clouds and green terrain during daylight.

A commercial airliner cockpit shows active avionics displays and autopilot controls with a view of clouds and blue sky outside.

A military aircraft with a large radar dome flies above mountainous terrain at sunset, with commemorative markings on its fuselage.

A military surveillance aircraft with a large radar dome flies above mountainous terrain at sunset with scattered clouds in the background.

A military surveillance aircraft with a large radar dome flies above scattered white clouds under a clear blue sky.

A large white aircraft with a distinctive radar dome on top flies above a thick layer of clouds under a clear blue sky.

A four-engine jet with its landing gear extended flies above scattered clouds against a bright blue sky.

A white military aircraft with "Armee de l'Air" markings and a large radar dome flies above a layer of scattered clouds.

A large gray military aircraft with a distinctive radar dome flies above dramatic, sunlit clouds during what appears to be sunset.

A four-engine military aircraft with a large radar dome climbs above a scattered cloud layer during sunrise or sunset.

A four-engine military surveillance aircraft with a large radar dome flies above dramatic, sunlit clouds under a clear blue sky.

A white twin-boom aircraft with a large black radar dome is flying above scattered clouds under a clear blue sky.

A white military aircraft with a large radar dome flies above scattered clouds at high altitude, leaving a dark smoke trail behind.

A large four-engine aircraft with a prominent radar dome flies above scattered clouds at high altitude with the moon visible in the sky.

A large four-engine aircraft with a distinctive radar dome flies above scattered clouds, with cockpit and fuselage details visible.

A French Air Force AWACS aircraft with a large radar dome flies above dense clouds, displaying roundels on its wing and fuselage.

A NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft with a large radar dome flies above clouds at sunrise, viewed from beneath the left wing.

A four-engine jet with military markings climbs above a thick cloud layer against a clear, deep blue sky.

A four-engine military surveillance aircraft with a large radar dome flies through cloudy skies, emitting a trail of smoke from its tail.

A white military aircraft with a large radar dome on top flies through gray skies, trailing smoke from its left engine.

A white four-engine jet with a large radar dome on top flies toward the viewer against a backdrop of dark clouds.

All screenshots above have been created by Fly Away Simulation and are exclusive. For more details, see our image copyright information.

Editor reviewed · Tested in-sim

Expert Overview

The MSFS Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) mod delivers an impressively detailed rendering of this unique military surveillance aircraft, expertly blending a redeveloped exterior model with the default Boeing 747 cockpit. Its meticulous texturing, functional doors, and optional black smoke effects make it feel genuinely alive in the simulator. Furthermore, the innovative loadout feature on the French variant demonstrates a thoughtful attention to detail that long-time simmers will appreciate.

Built around a modified Boeing 707 airframe, the E-3 Sentry offers an immersive experience for enthusiasts who want to explore airborne early warning operations. Numerous liveries, realistic sound packs, and a reworked interior all showcase the developers' commitment to high-fidelity design. From personal experience, this mod stands out by combining extensive realism with ease of use, making each flight both educational and highly engaging for Microsoft Flight Simulator veterans and newcomers alike.

The Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 community continually expands its horizons with remarkable add-ons, and the Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) mod is no exception. This freeware brings the iconic E-3 Sentry to the virtual skies, offering simmers an authentic and immersive experience. Let's delve into the technical details and unique features of this add-on.

Technical Overview

Exterior Model: Originally a Flight Simulator 2004 (FS9) aircraft, the exterior model of the E-3 Sentry has been meticulously redeveloped using Blender, ensuring high fidelity and detail, seamlessly integrating into the MSFS 2020 environment.
Interior Model: The interior leverages the detailed B747 cockpit model from ASOBO, offering a familiar yet unique experience, as the E-3 Sentry is fundamentally a modified Boeing 707.
Functional Doors: Both the cargo and personal doors are fully operational, adding an extra layer of realism. For an enhanced ground operations experience, the use of "toolbar pushback" is recommended.

Audio-Visual Finesse

Textures: Courtesy of Pascal FAF430, Ben Hartmann, and Eric Ingram, the add-on features meticulously crafted textures, enhancing the visual realism. Recent updates have addressed texture bugs and added new liveries, including a French texture and RAF E3-D model.
Sounds: Authentic sound packs, thanks to B. Plamondon, provide an immersive auditory experience. The mod includes sounds for two different engine types, adding to the authenticity.

Unique Features and Updates

Dynamic Loadouts: The French model includes an innovative feature allowing the appearance of a loading bridge by altering the 3rd loadout to 291 lbs, showcasing the mod's attention to detail.
Smoke Effects: The USAF and NATO models include a visually striking black smoke effect behind the engines, enhancing the realism of military operations.

Real-World Context

The Boeing E-3 Sentry, primarily a military Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, offers a unique flying experience. Its real-world counterpart, a modified Boeing 707, is renowned for its radar dome and advanced surveillance capabilities. This mod brings those unique aspects into the virtual world, offering a glimpse into the operations of this pivotal aircraft in air defense and command roles.

Disclaimer and Acknowledgments

The MSFS Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) mod is distributed 'as is', with no guarantees on functionality. Chuck Grimes remains credited for the original exterior model. Appreciation is extended to the texture and sound contributors for enhancing the overall quality of this add-on.

In conclusion, the MSFS Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) mod stands out as a meticulously crafted, realistic representation of a significant military aircraft. Its integration into MSFS 2020 enriches the simulation experience, offering both visual and technical immersion for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Installation

Simply extract the archive and copy the E3_SENTRY_AWACS folder into your MSFS community folder.

Ready to download Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS)?

Free for all simmers · 1.03 GB · Scanned clean

File information

Filename

e-3-sentry-awacs-msfs-fafa.zip

File size

1.03 GB

Virus scan

Clean (scanned with ClamAV)

Access

Freeware

Content rating

Everyone

Download speed: Free tier is capped at 2 Mbps (this file takes approximately 1h 14m at the cap). PRO members download at full line speed.

This is a freeware file — use is subject to our freeware copyright terms.

How to install this mod

MSFS aircraft

Extract the downloaded archive

Use 7-Zip (free) or WinRAR to extract the ZIP to a temporary folder. Don't install while still zipped — the simulator can't read inside ZIP files.
Locate your MSFS Community folder

All MSFS add-ons live in the Community folder. Microsoft Store / Game Pass version: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community\. Steam version: %APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages\Community\. Tip: enable Developer Mode in MSFS to see your exact Community folder path.
Copy the aircraft package into Community

Drag the extracted aircraft folder into your Community folder. Some aircraft require dependencies (like Working Title CJ4, FlyByWire A32NX) — check the readme.
Restart MSFS

Close MSFS completely and relaunch. The new content appears in the Content Manager, on the World Map, or in the aircraft/livery selector.
Always read the included readme

Every mod ships with a readme.txt or README file. It tells you exactly where files go, what dependencies are needed, and any quirks specific to this add-on.

About the developer

fafa_2021

An esteemed developer within the Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) 2020 community. Focused on modern military aircraft, fafa_2021 elevates flight simulation with precision-crafted mods. Operating from France, this developer skillfully converts legacy models from FS9 (FS2004) and FSX into immersive, high-quality enhancements.

fafa_2021 has generously granted Fly Away Simulation the privilege to showcase their mods, enriching our platform with top-tier flight simulation content. While currently without a donation link, any future options to support fafa_2021's work will be made available here.