Microsoft Word 10.0.2627;SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 15, 2003


                                AEARO CORPORATION
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

          Delaware                  0-26942                      13-3840450
(State or other jurisdiction     Commission file number)       (IRS employer
       of incorporation)                                     identification no.)


               5457 West 79th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (317) 692-6666
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)  Exhibit

99.1  Press  release  dated May 16,  2003 of Aearo  Corporation  announcing  its
results of operations for the 2nd quarter ending March 31, 2003

Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure.  (Information  furnished under this Item 12 -
Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On May 16, 2003, Aearo  Corporation  announced its results of operations for the
quarter ended March 31, 2003. A copy of the press release is attached  hereto as
Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information included in the attached exhibit and contained in Item 9 of this
Current  Report is being  furnished  pursuant to "Item 12. Results of Operations
and Financial Condition" of Form 8-K in accordance with SEC Release Nos. 33-8216
and  34-47583.  Such  information  shall not be deemed  "filed" for  purposes of
Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise  subject to the
liabilities of that Section,  nor shall it be deemed  incorporated  by reference
into any filing  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  regardless  of any general
incorporation language in such filing, unless expressly incorporated by specific
reference to such filing.

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: May 16, 2003      AEARO CORPORATION

                        By: /s/Jeffrey S. Kulka
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                        Jeffrey S. Kulka
                        Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer