Joint Ventures (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets	$ 2,529	$ 1,277	$ 418
Woodward and General Electric Joint Venture [Member]
Agreement to Form Joint Venture, Execution Date	May 20, 2015
Woodward and General Electric Joint Venture [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets	$ 250,000
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets, Annual Payments	$ 4,900
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

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- Definition

The cash inflow from the sale of property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3179-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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- Definition

Date the Company and a third party entered into a binding agreement to form a joint venture in the format YYYY-MM-DD.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Annual cash inflow from the sale of property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.

+ References

No definition available.

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