F-18 grips are manufactured in two lines, Professional and Home. All of them are replica of F/A-18E Super Hornet with its true and ergonomic shape, manufactured in a one-piece body construction in high density resin and with a high-grade fixation system with a knurled nut.
Home line is available in two versions, the F18CGRH with a matte finish and slight grainy feel and the F18CGRH Anti-Slip, manufactured with a special rubberized anti-slip coating.
The F18CGRH can be used as a center stick like in the real jet and as a side stick. If it is going to be used as a side stick, the user can easily turn its position for a more ergonomic pilot usage. For that, the user must only unscrew two screws, turn the black grip part on the fixation system until the new position and screw the two screws in the new position holes.
The F18CGRH includes a Rotary switch installed under the TRIM hat switch cap to easily hot swap between 8 configurable memory slots, 5-way switches in all the hat switches (TRIM, SENSOR and WEAPON SELECT), 5-way switches where in real grip there is only 1 way (WR, NWS and RECCE), a realistic trigger, a Bluetooth LE for firmware upgrade and three status LEDs used to show the slot in use.
The new v2 models now include Haptic vibration technology as a new advice system and support for the F/A-18 Stick Adapter.
The F-18 Center Grip as well as the RS grips family come in two lines, Professional and Home.
Professional range uses its own software and real military switches as well as custom socket and connector, under client specification.
Home range comes in two versions, the F18CGRH and the F18CGRH Anti-Slip (F18CGRH-AS).
Both models are one-piece body construction, made in black nylon plastic with a high-grade fixation system manufactured in aeronautic aluminum with a knurled nut. The only difference between both models is the surface finish. The F18CGRH has a matte finish and a slightly grainy feel and the F18CGRH-AS a special rubberized anti-slip coating. For simplicity, since both are functionally equal, in the below description we will refer to them as F18CGRH.
The F18CGRH can be used as a center stick, like in the real jet and as a side stick. If it is going to be used as a side stick, the user can easily turn its position for a more ergonomic pilot usage. For that, the user must only unscrew two screws, turn the black grip part on the fixation system until the new position and screw the two screws in the new position holes.
The F18CGRH includes next switches: Trim, Sensor Select, Weapon Release, Recce, Weapon Select, Nose wheel steering and a 2 stages trigger. Except trigger switch, all F18CGRH switches are 5-way switches, so you have available until 56 different buttons.
The F18CGRH has the following features:
True F/A-18E Super Hornet shape which guarantees a grip fully ergonomic.
Orientation of switches actuations perfectly adapted to the natural movement of the pilot’s finger when actuated it.
Haptic vibration actuator (available only in v2 versions and functional only with FSSB-R3 Lighting and ULTRA bases).
A Rotary switch, installed under the TRIM hat switch cap to easily hot swap between 8 configurable memory slots. With a single thumb movement, you can reconfigure the whole system in a fraction of a second.
5-way switches in all the hat switches (TRIM, SENSOR and WEAPON SELECT), with the possibility to disable the center position.
5-way switches where in real grip there is only 1 way (WR,NWS and RECCE), with the possibility to disable the additional directions.
Realistic Trigger.
Support for the F/A-18 Stick Adapter (only v2 versions).
Three status LEDs used to show the slot in use.
Add extra features to the FSSB-R3 Lighting and ULTRA when is connected to the R3L base.
Firmware upgradeable through BLE, so you could need a 4.0 or higher BLE dongle if your PC doesn’t have BLE included.
Three analog axes for Roll, Pitch and Yaw. These axes are independent of the standard axes in the X/Y base (Anti-Slip v2 version includes an enhanced version of sensors).
The F18CGRH is a standard grip.
It has communications with the base through a 5-pin mini-Din connector, just like all Thrustmaster compatible grips. The information the user can obtain from the F18CGRH through this connector only depends on the base connected. That means that if the F18CGRH is used with a TM Warthog base, the features will be identical to a Warthog stick, but if it is used with a FSSB-R3L (Lightnig and ULTRA), you will be able to enjoy all the new features included in the new firmware created for the R3L: 8 different configurable slots, 56 buttons to send keystrokes, a digital mouse, etc.
Improve the FSSB-R3L with new features.
When the F18CGRH is connected to a FSSB-R3L or ULTRA base, the latter offers the following additional features: slot number goes from 4 to 8, no SMM system just as you have 8 different configurations with hot swap (fast change) and 56 buttons to achieve the center position and center + up, down, right, left, and additional keyboard functions.
A new feature added to the v2 models is the haptic vibrational feedback. These grips have a vibration actuator that allows to generate vibrations that the user can perceive and associate to different situations.
To enjoy it, it is necessary a FSSB-R3L (Lighting or ULTRA) base with a MJF_FW_F16-18_5 firmware and at least the RS_HID_DEV_TOOL v15. Feedbacks already included in this version are the warning and the maximum force signals.
Tool to update it.
The F18CGRH is supplied with the firmware update tool “DCC” that let you easily install new firmware versions. This tool is included and can be downloaded with the RS_TOOLS package from the download page of our website.
To update the F18CGRH the only requirement is a BLE connection in the computer, integrated in the motherboard or through a dongle and run Windows 8.1 or higher because windows 7 and 8.0 do not support BLE devices. We suggest using Windows 10 or 11, we have fully tested the device functionality and software tools supplied in these OS.
The BLE functionality.
First all, we want to clarify that the F18CGRH has a BLE module for firmware update purposes. Realsimulator has left opened to the users the possibility of using the BLE module as an alternative way for communications, but this way won’t receive support from Realsimulator since we have been able to verify that the problems some users had with this functionality was caused by the BLE devices used, wrong installations or even by electromagnetics interferences with other devices or nets, in any case, home problems not product problems.
To help you with this matter if you decide to use it, Realsimulator offers you the product User Guide and our forums, where you will find information about this matter and others. Typically, it must work without problems but if you have them, you must find the source of the problem to fix it.
In conclusion, all content of this paragraph is related with the use of the BLE module and to features linked to it, so all of them are unsupported.
The new F18CGRH-AS v2 incorporate a new and improved version of the pitch, roll and yaw sensors that do not require the pairing operation to work properly. The new hardware and firmware included in the pcb makes this procedure automatically.
The F18CGRH-AS includes a power cable (mini-DIN to USB) of 1,8 m for standalone use.
The use of BLE module for communications allows you use the F18CGRH as a standalone device or as a smart grip connected to a TM compatible base; it only need a power to work. So you will be able to use the RS_HID_DEV_TOOL to configure it and receive directly the information of buttons and the Pitch, Roll and Yaw sensors.
When you connect it to the computer by BLE it will be shown as a composite device in the Device and printer window with the next properties: joystick (axes and buttons), keyboard (keystrokes) and mouse.
The F18CGRH is fully configurable with the RS_HID_DEV_TOOL, it let you adjust all parameters and functionalities per each memory slot and calibrate the three operatives axes: Roll, Pitch and Yaw.
In every slot you can configure the next analog features:
Full Scale Control
Roll Sensitivity
Pitch Sensitivity
Yaw Sensitivity
Roll Control Assistance
BFA Roll level
BFA Pitch level
Precision mode
Other additional features are:
HAT as POV or TRIM
Keystrokes ON/OFF
DX Buttons ON/OFF
DX Center Buttons in four modes: native (ON), basic (COMP), center removed (OFF) and double click (DClick).
Test window called Output
56 DX buttons can be enabled or disabled for every slot.
56 keystrokes can be enabled or disabled for every slot and of course can be different in every slot
DX events and Keystrokes generation by pulses, additional slot change thanks to the Shifter and Toggle functions, and Digital Mouse.
SWLed function to enable/disable showing switches activation in status LEDs when pressed.
Adjustable LEDs lighting level.
Slot name over the desired application with the Overlay function.
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Additional information
Weight
1,4 kg
Dimensions
33 × 13 × 13 cm
Technical data
F18CGRH v2
F/A-18E Super Hornet grip replica with the true and ergonomic shape.
One-piece body manufactured in high density resin.
High-grade fixation system with knurled nut.
Haptic vibration actuator (functional only with FSSB-R3 Lighting and ULTRA bases).
It can be used as center or side stick through easy customization.
Rotary switch, installed under the TRIM hat switch.
5-direction switches in all switches.
Very realistic Trigger with an audible and tactile click for second stage.
Support for the F/A-18 Stick Adapter.
Three analog axes for Roll, Pitch and Yaw. These axes are independent of the standard axes in the X/Y base (Anti-Slip v2 version includes an enhanced version of sensors).
Realsimulator warrants this product to be in good working order for a period of two (2) years from the date of purchase. For a more detailed information, please, visit our General Sales Conditions page.
Shipping cost is not included in price. It will be calculated based on the weight of the products and once you have provided your address.
This product is shipped by Express service. You will receive an email confirmation as soon as your order ships. On this confirmation will be a link that will take you directly to the freight carrier’s website so that you can track your order online.
European Community Citizens must add the European taxes (21%).
This price is only available for home user customers.
For professional/commercial use, price and product are different. These customers must contact our sales department (sales@realsimulator.com) for quotation and ordering information.
Realsimulator F-18CGRH First Impressions and General Info
Disclosure: This is a loaned preproduction unit via the courtesy of Realsimulator’s CEO. I do not have any ties to the company. I’m not a professional reviewer or Youtuber looking for followers, not even a licensed pilot (interventional cardiologist IRL). I, however, do get to try out new things once in a while because Realsim loves receiving meaningful and constructive feedbacks from customers. The objective of this write up is to help clarify the functionality of this soon to be release device as well as my very own impressions of it during initial usage. My primary purpose is also to provide feedbacks to Realsim, rather than you guys. I do have my own unit coming in later this month or next month.
What is the F-18CGRH? It is a replica of the F/A-18E grip with additional functionality. This is a step-down model of Realsim’s military version which is specifically designed for home use with more affordable pricing. CGRH stands for center grip right handed, they also provide side grip as well as left handed versions.
The F18CGRH can be used as a center stick, like in the real jet and as a side stick. If it is going to be used as a side stick, the user can easily turn its position for a more ergonomic pilot usage. For that, the user must only unscrew two screws, turn the black grip part on the fixation system until the new position and screw the two screws in the new position holes.
Tool to update it.
