CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2015
Revenue:
Product sales	$ 193,338	$ 189,476	$ 205,027
Contract services	71,535	74,622	54,371
Total revenue	264,873	264,098	259,398
Cost of sales:
Product sales	115,513	105,987	118,834
Contract services	47,250	46,008	36,296
Total cost of sales	162,763	151,995	155,130
Gross margin:
Product sales	77,825	83,489	86,193
Contract services	24,285	28,614	18,075
Total gross margin	102,110	112,103	104,268
Selling, general and administrative	56,537	60,077	55,763
Research and development	33,042	42,291	46,491
Income from operations	12,531	9,735	2,014
Other income (expense):
Interest income, net	1,618	1,032	882
Other income (expense), net	60	(2,699)	(1,003)
Income before income taxes	14,209	8,068	1,893
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	1,752	(898)	(1,002)
Net income	12,457	8,966	2,895
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(22)
Net income attributable to AeroVironment	$ 12,479	$ 8,966	$ 2,895
Earnings per share attributable to AeroVironment:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.54	$ 0.39	$ 0.13
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.54	$ 0.39	$ 0.13
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	23,059,045	22,936,413	22,868,733
Diluted (in shares)	23,307,738	23,153,493	23,145,997