Supplemental Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Quarterly Financial Information - Segment Reporting) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Net sales	$ 489,294	$ 438,467	$ 418,866	$ 365,075	$ 412,003	$ 356,367	$ 349,352	$ 339,308	$ 1,711,702	$ 1,457,030	$ 1,430,125
Interest expense, net	(6,029)	(6,244)	(6,214)	(6,378)	(6,679)	(6,852)	(7,204)	(8,141)	(24,865)	(28,876)	(32,498)
Consolidated earnings before income taxes	58,750	50,855	46,487	31,475	49,515	38,052	35,818	31,490	187,567	154,875	122,476
Total of Reporting Segments [Member]
Segment earnings (loss)	74,122	64,653	60,182	44,417	61,818	50,989	48,337	45,041	243,374	206,185	201,488
Aerospace [Member]
Net sales	241,701	215,242	204,945	181,144	212,649	191,150	185,196	180,384	843,032	769,379	704,771
Segment earnings (loss)	40,945	35,402	33,241	19,914	30,725	28,564	26,678	26,204	129,502	112,171	104,550
Energy [Member]
Net sales	247,593	223,225	213,921	183,931	199,354	165,217	164,156	158,924	868,670	687,651	725,354
Segment earnings (loss)	33,177	29,251	26,941	24,503	31,093	22,425	21,659	18,837	113,872	94,014	96,938
Unallocated Corporate [Member]
Segment earnings (loss)	$ (9,343)	$ (7,554)	$ (7,481)	$ (6,564)	$ (5,624)	$ (6,085)	$ (5,315)	$ (5,410)	$ (30,942)	$ (22,434)	$ (46,514)

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 4

-Section 08

-Paragraph h

-Subparagraph 1(i)

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of interest revenue (income derived from investments in debt securities and on cash and cash equivalents) net of interest expense (cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest).

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestRevenueExpenseNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, noncontrolling interest and interest expense or income, net.

+ Details

Name:	wwd_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesInterestMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	wwd
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration