To make a basic paper airplane, follow these steps:

1. Start with a standard sheet of paper (8.5 x 11 inches or A4).
2. Fold the paper in half lengthwise (hot dog style) and then unfold it to create a center crease.
3. Fold the top two corners inward to meet at the center crease, forming two triangles.
4. Fold the pointed tip down so it touches the bottom edge of the paper.
5. Fold the top two corners inward again so their points meet at the center crease.
6. Fold the small triangle at the bottom up over the folded flaps to lock them in place.
7. Fold the paper in half along the center crease, with the folds on the outside.
8. Fold down each side to create the wings, making sure the wings are even.
9. Unfold the wings slightly to give the plane stability.

This creates a classic dart-style paper airplane that flies well

. For a paper airplane that flies farther and more smoothly, you can try the "Mystic" design or other advanced models. For example, the Mystic plane involves folding the paper in half, then folding triangles to the center, folding the top section down, and locking the nose by tucking a small triangle over the layers. Wings are folded last to complete the plane. This design can fly over 150 feet and is easy to fold in about a minute

. If you want a jet-style paper airplane, you can fold the paper by first folding edges to the center, creating creases for wing folds, and locking the plane in a three-dimensional shape with a tail fin cut. This type of plane is aerodynamic and flies fast

. You can find detailed video tutorials and printable plans on sites like Fold 'N Fly or YouTube for step-by-step visual instructions

. In summary, start with the basic dart fold for a simple paper airplane, or try more advanced designs like the Mystic or jet folds for better flight performance.