<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000889348 <NAME> CPI AEROSTRUCTURES, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 589,859 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 1,338,012 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 11,753,141 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 57,658 <PP&E> 530,033 <DEPRECIATION> 380,907 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 13,917,023 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,740,081 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 5,877 <OTHER-SE> 11,149,942 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 13,917,023 <SALES> 2,170,716 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,170,716 <CGS> 1,496,400 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,496,400 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 336,130 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 672 <INCOME-PRETAX> 346,091 <INCOME-TAX> 142,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 204,091 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 204,091 <EPS-PRIMARY> .03 <EPS-DILUTED> .03