Here's a design for a non-dart paper airplane. This is more of a glider than the dart and will generally fly straighter and slower than the dart type design. It is also a little more difficult to build. So without further ado here are the instructions.
Start with an A4ish (legal is fine too).
Take one top corner and fold diagonally downwards so that the top edge is in line with the side you are folding the corner towards.
Crease this fold.
Unfold and repeat with the other side.
When you unfold this you should have creases as in the rightmost diagram.
+-------------+ + + +-------------+
| | |\__ __/| |\__ __/|
| | | \__ __/ | | \__ __/ |
| | | \__ __/ | | __x__ |
| | | \__ __/ | | __/ \__ |
| | |____________\ /____________| |/ \|
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
+-------------+ +-------------+ +-------------+ +-------------+
Next fold the paper hoizontally so that each top corner is on top of where the crease on that side meets the edge.
Unfold.
Now, take hold of the two points where the middle crease (the one that's made of dashes) meets the edge and pull them together and down so that they meet at point (i). This should pull the two diagonal creases together so that point (j) is directly on top of (i).
+-----(j)-----+
|\__ __/|
| \__ __/ |
|-------------| |------x------| __|__
| | | __/ \__ | __/ \__
|_____________| |/ (i) \| /_____|_____\
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
+-------------+ +-------------+ +-------------+
The next three diagrams show a close up on the top part of the glider. This is the most complicated part of contruction but it is necessary if the glider is to hold together in flight.
Take hold of the upper layer at point (a) and fold it up to point (b).
Take hold of the upper layer at point (c) and fold it across to point (d).
What you have at this stage looks like the third diagram. The piece you have just folded across has formed a little horizontal pocket (above "e") and the corner you folded up before that has formed a vertical flap (piece "f").
Take the top of the flap "f", point (g) and tuck it into the pocket so it is completely folded down. This stage is quite intricate but as long as the flap "f" cannot get loose it is good enough.
Repeat for the other side.
(b)
_/|\_
_/ | \_
_/ | \_
_/ | \_
_/ | \_
_/ | \_
_/ | \_
/______________|______________\(a)
| |
_/|\_
_/ | \_
_/ | \_
_/ (d) \_(c)
_/ | _/ \_
_/ | _/ \_
_/ | _/ \_
/______________|/_____________\
| |
(g)
_/|\_
_/ | f\_
_/ |____\_
_/ | e / \_
_/ | / \_
_/ | / \_
_/ | / \_
/______________|/_____________\
| |
That's the hard bit done.
Now just take edge "h" and fold it into the middle.
Then take the same edge and fold it in half so the edge of the paper is on the edge of the glider again.
Repeat on the other side and you are done.
__|__ __|__ __|__
__/\ | /\__ __/\ | /\ __/\ | /\
/____\|/____\ /____\|/__| /____\|/__|
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| h| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
+-------------+ +----------+ +----------+
The final glider should look something like the diagram below from the back. The two diagonal bits are the complicated pieces at the front. They tend to stick up like this but it doesn't affect flight too much. Enjoy!
__ __
| |
|____/_\____|
Another Airplane Design:
This paper airplane design is the simplest I have ever come across. It flies surprisingly well at high speed but can't really glide due to its weight distribution.
Instructions:
Take a piece of A4 or legal size paper or any rectangular piece of paper will do.
Fold over a strip of about 1 cm (1/4 inch) on the long side of the paper.
___________________
|___________________|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|___________________|
Repeatedly fold over this piece until you have used just over 1/3 of the width of the paper. This should form a thick strip at what will be the front of the glider.
___________________
|___________________|
| |
| |
| |
|___________________|
Fold this in half vertically.
___________________
|_________|_________|
| | |
| | |
| | |
|_________|_________|
If you've used heavy paper that might be it. Test it and if it flies well you don't need to do the next stage.
The reason it doesn't fly well is that the wings aren't stable enough to hold the glider in the air. The solution to this problem is to fold up 1 cm of the wings up on either side.
side
_________________
||_______|_______|| front
|| | ||
|| | || |______________|
|| | ||
||_______|_______||
This will provide the glider with the
stability it needs to
fly effectively.
To throw the glider you need to grip the front in the middle between your thumb and middle or pointer finger with your palm facing you and throw it by moving your hand away from you. This method takes a little practice but it is a lot more effective than trying to throw it the normal way.