CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2013
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash	$ 6,261	$ 5,148
Accounts receivable	3,109	2,697
Income tax receivable	0	1,395
Inventories
Raw materials	5,102	5,082
Work in process	1,090	332
Finished goods	144	240
Total Inventory	6,336	5,654
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	825	829
Total current assets	16,531	15,723
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Land and building	4,044	4,044
Aircraft	6,723	6,723
Machinery and equipment	3,535	3,714
Office furniture and fixtures	6,447	6,341
Leasehold improvements	4,060	4,060
Property, plant and equipment, gross	24,809	24,882
Accumulated depreciation	(12,140)	(9,435)
Total property, plant and equipment	12,669	15,447
SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATES (net of amortization of $2,604 at April 30, 2013 and $2,500 at April 30, 2012)	3,744	3,864
OTHER ASSETS:
Deferred tax asset	1,335	1,303
Other assets (net of accumulated amortization of $1,213 at April 30, 2013 and $538 at April 30, 2012)	7,399	7,523
Total other assets	8,734	8,826
Total assets	41,678	43,860
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Promissory notes	1,757	1,377
Current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	3,908	4,551
Accounts payable	1,375	1,509
Customer deposits	982	193
Gaming facility mandated payment	1,267	1,337
Compensation and compensated absences	1,122	1,045
Other current liabilities	93	119
Total current liabilities	10,504	10,131
LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS, NET OF CURRENT MATURITIES:	6,820	10,155
Total liabilities	17,324	20,286
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock, par value $.01:authorized 100,000,000 shares issued and outstanding 59,619,173 shares at April 30, 2013 and 57,907,564 at April 30, 2012	614	596
Capital contributed in excess of par	13,282	13,034
Treasury stock at cost, 600,000 shares	(732)	(732)
Retained earnings	8,134	8,022
Total stockholders' equity Butler National Corporation	21,298	20,920
Noncontrolling interest in BHCMC, LLC	3,056	2,654
Total stockholders' equity	24,354	23,574
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	41,678	43,860
Preferred Class A [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock	0	0
Preferred Class B [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock	$ 0	$ 0