EXHIBIT 99.3

                                          DECRANE AIRCRAFT HOLDINGS, INC.
 
                                          2361 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 180
 
                                          El Segundo, CA 90245
 
                                          TRADED: NASDAQ: DAHX
 


                                                                              
AT THE COMPANY:              AT THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD:
Robert A. Rankin             Karen Taylor                 Moira Conlon                 Michaelle Burstin
Chief Financial Officer      General Information          Investor/Analyst Contact     Media Contact
(310) 725-9123               (310) 442-0599               (310) 442-0599               (310) 442-0599

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
JULY 1, 1998
 
          DECRANE AIRCRAFT HOLDINGS ACQUIRES DETTMERS INDUSTRIES INC.,
               DESIGNER AND MANUFACTURER OF CORPORATE JET SEATING
 
                            ACQUISITION HIGHLIGHTS:
 
    - STRENGTHENS PRODUCT OFFERINGS IN THE AIRCRAFT CABIN
 
    - INCREASES SALES TO EXISTING CLIENTS, INCLUDING DASSAULT/FALCON JET,
      BOMBARDIER AND THE MAJOR MODIFICATION CENTERS
 
    EL SEGUNDO, CA, JULY 1, 1998--DeCrane Aircraft Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:
DAHX), a leading manufacturer of avionics components and an avionics systems
integrator for the commercial and high-end corporate aircraft industry, today
announced the acquisition of Dettmers Industries Inc., a Florida-based
manufacturer of cabin interior products for the corporate jet market.
 
DETTMERS--KEY PLAYER IN CABIN INTERIORS
 
    Dettmers Industries designs, manufactures and markets seating and other
cabin interior products for the corporate aviation industry, particularly to
aircraft completion centers. Dettmers is a certified FAA manufacturing and
repair station, which expedites approvals and completion dates. Dettmers has
been growing revenues in excess of 30% annually for the last three years, said
DeCrane.
 
    "While several synergies have been identified in the sales and marketing
areas, the real attractiveness of the company is the potential for several new
seat designs that are currently coming to market. Therefore, the short-term
focus of the new subsidiary will be to qualify these new seat designs," said
DeCrane. "We believe the new motorized seat offered by Dettmers is among the
finest available, and has the potential to dominate the high-end executive
seating market for corporate jets," added DeCrane.
 
    "Dettmers has considerable expertise in making highly functional, motorized
seating products for the corporate jet market," said DeCrane. "The recently
obtained order for the executive seating on five new Boeing BBJ aircraft is
evidence of the company's evolving status as one of the premier providers of
executive seating products," said DeCrane.
 
    Dettmers sells its products to many of the same customers already serviced
by DeCrane, including Dassault, Bombardier and the major modification centers.
In addition to the obvious sales synergies, many of the products created by
DeCrane's Audio International and Avtech subsidiaries will be highly
complementary to Dettmers' product line, said DeCrane. Audio International
produces sound and cabin management systems, including in-flight entertainment
equipment, which is often housed in aircraft seating; Avtech makes audio,
lighting, power, communications and control equipment.
 
    Dettmers will operate as a separate subsidiary of DeCrane. President Andrew
Perl will report directly to Chuck Becker, DeCrane's President and Chief
Operational Officer. Co-founder and Vice President of

Product Development Peter Dettmers will continue in his role as the chief
technology officer of the company.
 
FITS DECRANE'S KEY ACQUISITION CRITERIA
 
    DeCrane said he believes Dettmers' product line takes the company another
step forward by expanding the Company's product offerings for the high-end
corporate jet market to include seating and other cabinet interior products. The
industry is consolidating rapidly as the larger aircraft companies pare back the
number of vendors they are willing to buy from, thus simplifying their
purchasing operations. DeCrane is an industry leader in this consolidation
movement, acquiring companies that fit its acquisition criteria.
 
    Generally speaking, DeCrane seeks companies that provide synergy with the
existing product line or that give the company new capabilities. DeCrane's
product line is well balanced and is used throughout the lifecycle of an
aircraft (OEM, aftermarket and retrofit market).
 
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
    Except for historical information contained herein, this document contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve known and unknown risks
and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results or outcomes to be
materially different from those anticipated and discussed herein. Further, the
Company operates in an industry sector where securities values may be volatile
and may be influenced by regulatory and other factors beyond the Company's
control. Important factors that the Company believes might cause such
differences are discussed in the cautionary statements accompanying the
forward-looking statements in the Company's reports filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. In assessing forward-looking statements contained
herein, readers are urged to read carefully all cautionary statements contained
in those filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
    DeCrane Aircraft Holdings, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of avionics
components and a provider of avionics systems integration services in certain
niche markets of the commercial aircraft and high-end corporate jet industries.
The Company's products and services typically are utilized to provide an
interface between an aircraft and its avionic systems.
 
    For more information about DeCrane Aircraft Holdings, Inc. via facsimile
simply call 1-800-PRO-INFO and dial client code "DAHX".