<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S 1998 ANNUAL REPORT TO 
SHAREHOLDERS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY 
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000054381
<NAME> KAMAN CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          65,130
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  217,175
<ALLOWANCES>                                    (4,047)
<INVENTORY>                                    207,897
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               516,504
<PP&E>                                         167,787
<DEPRECIATION>                                (102,014)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 587,230
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          228,975
<BONDS>                                         28,206
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        23,734
<OTHER-SE>                                     285,760
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   587,230
<SALES>                                      1,004,541
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,006,006
<CGS>                                          741,719
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  954,443
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 1,558
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                (353)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 50,358
<INCOME-TAX>                                    20,350
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             30,008
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    30,008
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.23