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

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Joint Venture (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019
Other Liabilities [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Reduction in contract liabilities and costs to fulfill contract	$ 6,207		$ 2,774		$ 6,207	$ 2,774
Woodward and General Electric Joint Venture [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Agreement to Form Joint Venture, Execution Date					Jan. 04, 2016
Ownership interest, joint venture	50.00%				50.00%
Cash received annually from formation of joint venture		$ 4,894		$ 4,894	$ 4,894
Woodward and General Electric Joint Venture [Member] \| Other Liabilities [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Contract liabilities	$ 68,735				68,735		$ 69,079
Woodward and General Electric Joint Venture [Member] \| Other Assets [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Costs to fulfill a contract	68,735				68,735		$ 69,079
Woodward and General Electric Joint Venture [Member] \| Sales [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Amortization of deferred income recognized as an increase to sales	802		2,013		4,331	5,712
Reduction to sales related to royalties owed to joint venture	$ 2,292		$ 6,897		$ 19,305	$ 25,148