Abstract: A throwing dart provided with a tail portion which collapses into a smaller cross-sectional area to reduce interference with subsequently thrown darts. The tail portion includes a stem portion having an elongated cylindrical shaft provided with a disk-shaped cam member. A slotted tubular sleeve is slidably and rotatably affixed to the shaft, the slots opening to the axially rearward end of the sleeve. A shaped flight or vane is fitted to each slot and flexibly retained therein by a resilient holding ring which retains the forward ends of the flights to the sleeve. In operation, the tail portion is cocked by sliding the sleeve and flight assembly in a rearward direction such that the cam urges the flights into an extended, fanned position. When the dart is thrown and impacts the game board, the tail portion moves forwardly due to inertia, and the cam is received in angled recesses in the flights to permit them to retract toward the longitudinal axis of the dart.