CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash	$ 5,438	$ 7,431
Accounts receivable	1,968	3,589
Inventories
Raw materials	6,251	6,305
Work in process	1,165	982
Finished goods	301	424
Total inventory	7,717	7,711
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,189	1,493
Total current assets	17,312	20,224
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Land and building	3,915	3,915
Aircraft	6,692	6,288
Machinery and equipment	3,714	3,714
Office furniture and fixtures	6,260	3,217
Leasehold improvements	4,048	31
Property, plant and equipment, gross	24,629	17,165
Accumulated depreciation	(8,595)	(6,688)
Total property, plant and equipment	16,034	10,477
SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATES (net of amortization of $2,577 at January 31, 2013 and $2,500 at April 30, 2012)	2,042	1,677
OTHER ASSETS:
Deferred tax asset	1,167	1,167
Other assets (net of accumulated amortization of $971 at January 31, 2013 and $538 at April 30, 2012)	7,766	7,017
Total other assets	8,933	8,184
Total Assets	44,321	40,562
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Line of credit	837	462
Current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	4,996	3,757
Accounts payable	1,708	1,169
Customer deposits	391	1,015
Gaming facility mandated payment	2,058	1,281
Compensation and compensated absences	1,190	1,342
Income tax	0	47
Other current liabilities	291	207
Total current liabilities	11,471	9,280
LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS, NET OF CURRENT MATURITIES:	9,676	8,678
Total liabilities	21,147	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 January 31, 2013 and 57,907,564 shares at April 30, 2012	581	579
Common stock, owed but not issued 278,573 shares at January 31, 2013 and at April 30, 2012	3	3
Capital contributed in excess of par	12,764	12,568
Treasury stock at cost, 600,000 shares	(732)	(732)
Retained Earnings	7,797	8,170
Total stockholders' equity Butler National Corporation	20,413	20,588
Noncontrolling Interest in BHCMC, LLC	2,761	2,016
Total stockholders' equity	23,174	22,604
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	44,321	40,562
Preferred Class A [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock	0	0
Preferred Class B [Member]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock	$ 0	$ 0