Acknowledgments first:
here (JG52Krupi) and
here (Ataros, post #37).
This is a method to create a virtual RAM drive which can be used to store some of the more accessed game files. I don't know how RAM speed compares with SSD speed? But many of us don't have SSDs yet. You will need some spare RAM that is not being used while the game is running.
The below test seems to reduce stuttering (no effect on FPS) during a quick free flight over Dover. I don't have time to continue testing just now but more later. Please let us know how you get on if you try it.
1. Download ImDisk from here:
http://www.ltr-data.se/opencode.html/#ImDisk
2. Install ImDisk then open ImDisk from Control Panel
3. Mount Image. All you need to do is click on Gigabytes under Size of virtual disk and enter 1 in the text box. This will create a 1Gb virtual RAM drive with the drive letter F
4. Format the new drive in My Computer as NTFS
5. *Copy* whichever files you want over to the new RAM drive (I copied bob_3do.SFS, bob_buildings.SFS and bob_ground.SFS in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\il-2 sturmovik cliffs of dover\parts\bob)
6. Rename the HDD versions of the files with an -OLD extension (or whatever you want - don't delete them but you will need to rename or move them)
7. Download Link Shell Extension and the necessary runtime DLLs from this site:
http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinks...kshellext.html
8. Open your new RAM drive (F: for me) in My Computer, right-click the file you want to create a link to and click Pick Link Source
9. Open the original steamapps CoD folder where the files are usually located, right click and click Drop Symbolic Link
10. Play the game
11. Let us know if it makes a difference or even if it doesn't, thanks.