CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2012
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash	$ 7,031	$ 7,431
Accounts receivable	2,847	3,589
Inventories
Raw materials	6,211	6,305
Work in process	1,085	982
Finished goods	292	424
Total inventory	7,588	7,711
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,050	1,493
Total current assets	19,516	20,224
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Land and building	3,946	3,946
Aircraft	6,673	6,288
Machinery and equipment	3,714	3,714
Office furniture and fixtures	3,068	3,217
Construction in progress	6,711	0
Property, plant and equipment, gross	24,112	17,165
Accumulated depreciation	(7,880)	(6,688)
Total property, plant and equipment	16,232	10,477
SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATES (net of amortization of $2,562 at October 31, 2012 and $2,500 at April 30, 2012)	1,621	1,677
OTHER ASSETS:
Deferred tax asset	1,167	1,167
Other assets (net of accumulated amortization of $803 at October 31, 2012 and $538 at April 30, 2012)	6,752	7,017
Total other assets	7,919	8,184
Total Assets	45,288	40,562
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Line of Credit	902	462
Current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	4,958	3,757
Accounts payable	1,760	1,169
Customer deposits	444	1,015
Gaming facility mandated payment	1,463	1,281
Compensation and compensated absences	963	1,342
Accrued income tax	0	47
Other	291	207
Total current liabilities	10,781	9,280
LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS, NET OF CURRENT MATURITIES:	10,624	8,678
Total liabilities	21,405	17,958
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock, par value $.01:Authorized 100,000,000 shares issued and outstanding 58,142,914 shares at October 31, 2012 and 57,907,564 shares at April 30, 2012	581	579
Common stock, owed but not issued 278,573 shares at October 31, 2012 and at April 30, 2012	3	3
Capital contributed in excess of par	12,736	12,568
Treasury stock at cost, 600,000 shares	(732)	(732)
Retained Earnings	8,553	8,170
Total stockholders' equity Butler National Corporation	21,141	20,588
Noncontrolling Interest in BHCMC, LLC	2,742	2,016
Total stockholders' equity	23,883	22,604
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	45,288	40,562
Preferred Class A [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock	0	0
Preferred Class B [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock	$ 0	$ 0