I know this relates to evolution, but I disagree with this statement. In "Dinosaur" by David Norman, he discusses Archacopteryx, and states that although there is an apparent absence of a bony breastbone or ternum, to which large flight muscles would be attached, it had wings with an arrangement of primary and secondary feathers much like those of a modern bird.

Furthermore, he states that Canadian paleontologist R. Alan Feduccia had shown that the individual feathers of Archaeopteryx are asymetrical, this pattern being exactly the same as is seen in all flying birds today, and makes the feather aerodynamically efficient.

He states that both pieces of evidence point to Archaeopteryx being an active flier, with a prominent furcula (wishbone) to which flight muscles could attach, and it is now thought that Archaeopteryx was a reasonably competent flier. He acknolwedges that with the heavier skeleton than a modern bird's, it did not have great aerial skills. It had been generally undisputed that it was a good glider, but this author, at least, feels the evidence is pretty strong that it was a reasonable flier, too. Certainly a much better flier than Carson of Venus, at least in my view.

Tarak Rex