Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2018	Jan. 28, 2017	Jan. 27, 2018	Jan. 28, 2017
Revenue:
Product sales	$ 49,204	$ 36,746	$ 133,228	$ 81,833
Contract services	14,731	16,417	48,298	57,664
Total revenue	63,935	53,163	181,526	139,497
Cost of sales:
Product sales	31,911	23,641	86,142	58,060
Contract services	11,438	10,171	32,168	37,986
Total cost of sales	43,349	33,812	118,310	96,046
Gross margin:
Product sales	17,293	13,105	47,086	23,773
Contract services	3,293	6,246	16,130	19,678
Total gross margin	20,586	19,351	63,216	43,451
Selling, general and administrative	13,500	12,788	41,295	39,838
Research and development	7,314	7,988	21,047	25,105
(Loss) income from operations	(228)	(1,425)	874	(21,492)
Other income (expense):
Interest income, net	545	390	1,489	1,162
Other expense, net	(108)	(38)	(159)	(357)
Income (loss) before income taxes	209	(1,073)	2,204	(20,687)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	628	1,102	277	(2,809)
Equity method investment activity, net of tax	(418)	(8)	(418)	(119)
Net (loss) income	(837)	(2,183)	1,509	(17,997)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	9		238
Net (loss) income attributable to AeroVironment	$ (828)	$ (2,183)	$ 1,747	$ (17,997)
Net (loss) income per share attributable to AeroVironment:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.07	$ (0.78)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.07	$ (0.78)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	23,515,622	23,082,974	23,443,673	23,029,546
Diluted (in shares)	23,515,622	23,082,974	23,774,946	23,029,546