"RST Engineering"
no you don't need to know a skew-T diagram for
private, and marginally for commercial. For CFI, probably. 36 hour
progs? Certainly you jest.

I do believe that these questions are on the private glider written exam and
can be reviewed by the DPE during the oral portion if he so desires. For
the benefit of the non soaring types, a review of Area I Task B of the
Private PTS:
-Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to weather information from
various sources with emphasis on, use of weather reports, charts and
forecasts, significant weather prognostics.
-Exhibits knowledge of the relationship of the following factors on the
lifting process, pressure and temperature lapse rates, atmospheric
instability, thermal index and thermal production, cloud formation and
identification, frontal weather and other lifting sources.

Looks like a lot of stuff in there can be gleaned from a Skew-T and Prog
charts.... mmmm
Ever go to a check ride without a good soaring forecast?

BT