Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Net sales	$ 485,513	$ 468,793	$ 893,852	$ 876,689
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold	348,100	322,492	637,673	606,902
Selling, general and administrative expenses	37,206	40,788	73,624	79,358
Research and development costs	34,000	37,445	64,018	68,239
Amortization of intangible assets	9,813	8,294	17,480	16,552
Interest expense	7,017	6,552	13,473	12,860
Interest income	(69)	(84)	(137)	(210)
Other (income) expense, net (Note 15)	(890)	(732)	(1,152)	(1,226)
Total costs and expenses	435,177	414,755	804,979	782,475
Earnings before income taxes	50,336	54,038	88,873	94,214
Income tax expense	7,890	15,287	19,059	27,046
Net earnings	$ 42,446	$ 38,751	$ 69,814	$ 67,168
Earnings per share (Note 3):
Basic earnings per share	$ 0.62	$ 0.56	$ 1.02	$ 0.97
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.61	$ 0.55	$ 1.00	$ 0.95
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding (Note 3):
Basic	68,737	69,077	68,597	68,998
Diluted	69,935	70,624	69,831	70,504
Cash dividends per share paid to Woodward common stockholders	$ 0.08	$ 0.08	$ 0.16	$ 0.15