SIXTH AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT


         THIS SIXTH AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") is made and
entered into effective as of October 30, 2001, by and among LMI AEROSPACE, INC.,
formerly known as Leonard's Metal, Inc., a Missouri corporation, LMI FINISHING
INC., an Oklahoma corporation, LEONARD'S METAL, INC., formerly known as LMI
Acquisition, Inc., a Missouri corporation, PRECISE MACHINE COMPANY, a Missouri
corporation, and TEMPCO ENGINEERING, INC., a Missouri corporation, formerly
known as Metal Corporation and doing business in the State of California as
Metal Corporation of Sun Valley, as co-obligors and co-borrowers and not as
accommodation parties (said corporations being jointly and severally referred to
herein as "Borrower"), and UNION PLANTERS BANK, N.A., a national banking
association, successor to Magna Bank, National Association ("Lender").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, Borrower and Bank have heretofore entered into that certain
Loan Agreement dated August 15, 1996 as amended by that certain First Amendment
to Loan Agreement dated January 15, 1997, that certain Second Amendment to Loan
Agreement dated November 1, 1997, that certain Third Amendment to Loan Agreement
dated March 30, 2000, that certain Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated
October 30, 2000 and that certain Fifth Amendment to and Restatement of Loan
Agreement dated April 2, 2001 (the "Loan Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS,  Borrower and Lender desire to further amend the Loan
Agreement in the manner hereinafter set forth;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, Borrower and Lender hereby agree as follows:

         1. The definition of "Revolving Credit Period" set forth in Section 2
of the Loan Agreement hereby is delayed in its entirety and the following
substituted in lieu thereof:

         Revolving Credit Period shall mean the period commencing on
         March 30, 1998 and ending November 30, 2001.

         2. Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse Lender upon demand for all
out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred by Lender in the preparation, negotiation
and execution of this Amendment and any and all other agreements, documents,
instruments and/or certificates relating to the amendment of Borrower's existing
credit facilities with Lender (collectively, the "Loan Documents"). Borrower
further agrees to pay or reimburse Lender for (a) any stamp or other taxes
(excluding income or gross receipts taxes) which may be payable with respect to
the execution, delivery, filing and/or recording of the Loan Documents and (b)
the cost of any filings and searches, including, without limitation, Uniform
Commercial Code filings and searches. All of the obligations of Borrower under
this paragraph shall survive the payment of the Borrower's Obligations and the
termination of the Loan Agreement.

         3. All references in the Loan Agreement to "this Agreement" and any
other references of similar import shall henceforth mean the Loan Agreement as
amended by this Amendment.

         4. Except to the extent specifically amended by this Amendment, all of
the terms, provisions, conditions, covenants, representations and warranties
contained in the Loan Agreement shall be and remain in full force and effect and
the same are hereby ratified and confirmed. This amendment is an amendment and
continuation of the Loan Agreement and is not a novation thereof nor of any
obligations of Borrower outstanding thereunder on the date hereof.

         5. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
Borrower and Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that
Borrower may not assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations
under the Loan Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.

         6.  Each Borrower hereby represents and warrants to Lender that:

               (a) the execution, delivery and performance by such Borrower of
         this Amendment are within the corporate powers of such Borrower, have
         been duly authorized by all corporate action and require no action by
         or in respect of, consent of or filing or recording with, any
         governmental or regulatory body, agency or official of any other
         Person;

               (b) the execution, delivery and performance by such Borrower of
         this Amendment do not conflict with, or result in a breach of the
         terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under or
         result in any violation of, the terms of the Articles of Incorporation
         or By-Laws of such Borrower, any applicable law, rule, regulation,
         order, writ, judgment or decree of any court or governmental or
         regulatory agent or instrumentality or any agreement, document or
         instrument to which such Borrower is a party or by which such Borrower
         or any of its Property or assets is bound or to which such Borrower or
         its Property or assets is subject;

               (c) this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such
         Borrower and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of
         such Borrower enforceable against such Borrower in accordance with its
         terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable
         bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
         creditors' rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity
         (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
         proceeding in equity or at law); and

               (d) as of the date of this Amendment, all of the representations
         and warranties of Borrower set forth in the Loan Agreement and the
         Transaction Documents are true and correct in all material respects and
         no Default or Event of Default under or within the meaning of the Loan
         Agreement has occurred and is continuing.

         7. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between this Amendment
and the Loan Agreement, the terms, provisions and conditions contained in this
Amendment shall govern and control.

         8. This  Amendment  shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the  substantive  laws of the State of Missouri (without reference to
conflict of law principles).

         9. ORAL AGREEMENTS OR COMMITMENTS TO LOAN MONEY, EXTEND CREDIT OR TO
FORBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT, INCLUDING PROMISES TO EXTEND OR
RENEW SUCH DEBT, ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE. TO PROTECT BORROWER AND LENDER FROM
MISUNDERSTANDING OR DISAPPOINTMENT, ANY AGREEMENTS REACHED BY BORROWER AND
LENDER COVERING SUCH MATTERS ARE CONTAINED IN THE LOAN AGREEMENT AS AMENDED BY
THIS AMENDMENT AND THE OTHER AGREEMENTS, WHICH LOAN AGREEMENT AS AMENDED BY THIS
AMENDMENT AND OTHER AGREEMENTS ARE A COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF THE
AGREEMENTS BETWEEN BORROWER AND LENDER, EXCEPT AS BORROWER AND LENDER MAY LATER
AGREE IN WRITING TO MODIFY THEM.

                       [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS THIS PAGE]


<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this First Amendment to
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement as of the date first written above.

                                 LMI AEROSPACE, INC. (formerly known as
                                 Leonard's Metal, Inc.)


                                 By:      /s/ Lawrence E. Dickinson
                                          --------------------------------------
                                 Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
                                          --------------------------------------


                                 LMI FINISHING, INC.


                                 By:      /s/ Lawrence E. Dickinson
                                          --------------------------------------
                                 Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
                                          --------------------------------------


                                 LEONARD'S  METAL,  INC.  (formerly  known as
                                 LMI  Acquisition, Inc.)


                                 By:      /s/ Lawrence E. Dickinson
                                          --------------------------------------
                                 Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
                                          --------------------------------------


                                 PRECISE MACHINE COMPANY


                                 By:      /s/ Lawrence E. Dickinson
                                          --------------------------------------
                                 Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
                                          --------------------------------------


                                 TEMPCO ENGINEERING, INC. (formerly known as
                                 Metal Corporation)


                                 By:      /s/ Lawrence E. Dickinson
                                          --------------------------------------
                                 Title:   Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
                                          --------------------------------------


                                 UNION PLANTERS BANK, N.A.


                                 By:      /s/ Patricia A. O'Herin
                                          --------------------------------------
                                 Title:   Executive Vice President
                                          --------------------------------------