EXHIBIT 99.1

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



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                LMI AEROSPACE ANNOUNCES SALE OF VERSAFORM CANADA
                       NASDAQ RECINDS NOTICE OF DELISTING

         ST. LOUIS - September 16, 2004 - 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 sold its Versaform Canada division to a private group of investors.
Terms of the sale were not disclosed. The sale of Versaform Canada resulted from
LMI's previously announced strategy to sell certain non-core assets. Versaform
Canada manufactures aerospace and architectural components and is located in
British Columbia.

         The company also announced that it was notified by the Nasdaq Stock
Market on September 15, 2004 that LMI has regained compliance for listing on the
Nasdaq National Market. In June 2004 LMI's stock value fell below the threshold
for listing on the Nasdaq National Market, and the company faced potential
delisting.

         LMI's share price closed at $1.55 per share on September 15, 2004.

         LMI Aerospace, Inc. is a leading supplier of quality components to the
aerospace and technology industries. The company operates eleven manufacturing
facilities that fabricate, machine, finish and integrate 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 related to LMI
Aerospace's outlook for 2004, 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 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those
factors contained in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year
ended December 31, 2003.
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