<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-27-1996 <PERIOD-START> SEP-30-1995 <PERIOD-END> MAR-29-1996 <CASH> 24,677 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 501,983 <ALLOWANCES> 17,414 <INVENTORY> 302,605 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 942,161 <PP&E> 1,515,373 <DEPRECIATION> 731,930 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,651,330 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 832,681 <BONDS> 1,308,477 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 14,190 <COMMON> 255 <OTHER-SE> 240,324 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,651,330 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,014,000 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,756,907 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 90,478 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,532 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 60,320 <INCOME-PRETAX> 66,860 <INCOME-TAX> 26,572 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 40,288 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (1,589) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 38,699 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> $.80