Fly Away AWACS aircraft: engines running but won’t taxi with throttle

A few things to check on that one (step-by-step)

This “engines up / throttles moving / brakes off / won’t budge” symptom in MSFS is usually either (a) a control binding conflict, (b) the sim still thinks a brake/parking brake is set, or (c) you’re not actually feeding throttle to the sim (axis is moving in the cockpit, but the input is being overridden/held at idle).

Try this in order:

1) Rule out a binding conflict (most common)

1. Go into Controls Options and pick the device you’re using for throttle (yoke/throttle quadrant/gamepad).
2. Search for: Throttle Axis, Throttle 1 Axis, Throttle 2 Axis, and Set Throttle.
3. Make sure you don’t have the same axis bound twice (example: bound on your throttle quadrant and also on a controller).
4. Temporarily unplug/disable any extra controllers (Xbox controller, spare joystick, etc.) and test again.

2) Verify you’re using the right throttle binding for that aircraft
Some add-on jets are happier with “Throttle 1 Axis / Throttle 2 Axis” rather than the single “Throttle Axis” (or vice-versa).

1. If you currently use Throttle Axis, try swapping to Throttle 1 Axis and Throttle 2 Axis (same physical lever can be assigned to both just for testing).
2. Retest on a default airport ramp with the aircraft light and level.

3) Confirm the sim isn’t holding brakes on
Even if the handle looks “off,” a stuck brake axis or conflicting binding can keep brakes applied.

1. In Controls Options, search for Brake Axis and Left/Right Brake Axis.
2. If you don’t have pedals, make sure you don’t have any brake axis accidentally assigned somewhere.
3. If you do have pedals: check the brake axes aren’t inverted or sitting partially applied at rest.

4) Quick sanity check: test with a default aircraft
Load something default (C172 or similar) at the same airport and see if it taxis normally with the same controls. That tells us immediately if this is global controls vs. specific to the AWACS add-on.

5) Try a “clean” test session

1. Restart MSFS.
2. Start the flight “Cold & Dark” or “Ready for Takeoff” (either is fine), but do the test without using pushback or any ground service first.
3. Advance throttle to ~40–50% and see if you get any movement at all.

A couple quick questions so I don’t send you on a wild goose chase

• Which control hardware are you using (throttle quadrant/pedals/gamepad)? Any other controllers plugged in?
• Does a default aircraft taxi normally with the same setup?
• Do you have toe brakes assigned (axis) or are you using a button for brakes?
• Any assists on (especially anything “auto” related) that might be interfering?

Post back with those details and we can narrow it down fast.