EXHIBIT 99.1

                                           Contact:
                                           Ed Dickinson
                                           Chief Financial Officer, 636/916-2150


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                     LMI AEROSPACE SIGNS LONG-TERM CONTRACT
                            WITH BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE
      LMI to Produce Components for Business and Regional Jets Through 2007

         ST. LOUIS, December 3, 2003 - LMI Aerospace, Inc. (Nasdaq:LMIA), a
leading provider of assemblies, kits and detail sheet metal and machined
components to the aerospace, defense and technology industries, announced today
that it has signed a long term contract with Bombardier Aerospace, a subsidiary
of Bombardier, Inc. that will extend the current work package and pricing
through 2007. Terms were not disclosed.

         LMI Aerospace will supply Bombardier Aerospace with structural sheet
metal skins and components for Bombardier regional and business jets, including
its Bombardier CRJ Series and Q Series regional aircraft, and Learjet,
Challenger and Global families of business jets during the multi-year agreement.

         "We are very pleased to continue our business relationship with
Bombardier, one of our long-standing customers," said Ronald S. Saks, President
and Chief Executive Officer of LMI Aerospace. "This agreement enables us to grow
our core competency of forming structural sheet metal skins for regional and
business jet manufacturers."

         LMI Aerospace, a leading supplier of quality components to the
aerospace and technology industries for 55 years, operates thirteen facilities
that fabricate, machine, finish, integrate, assemble and kit formed, close
tolerance aluminum and specialty alloy components for commercial, corporate,
regional and military aircraft, laser, equipment used in the semiconductor and
medical industries, and for the commercial sheet metal industries.

         This press release includes forward-looking statements which are based
on current management expectations. Such forward-looking statements are subject
to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of LMI
Aerospace, Inc. Actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking
statements as a result, among other things, of the factors detailed from time to
time in LMI Aerospace's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including those factors contained in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2002.

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