Dave,
I have both the Alpha, for students, and the Arrow for kicks, and you CAN fly the Arrow in some pretty hearty wind. No plane knows it's windy once in the air, just on the ground, and immediately after the transition from ground to sky. (lots of turbulent air near the ground) The key here is to take off EXACTLY into the wind.

Major gusts on the other hand, will require a very quick response on the sticks to maintian your planes' health.