Peter Egan Takes Off in Landings in America — New from Octane Press

Austin, Texas. June 1, 2025 - Landings in America may be Peter Egan’s first book about flying, but to any longtime reader of Cycle World, it’s unmistakably part of the same journey. In the summer of 1987, Egan and his wife Barb packed light—just a pup tent, a little cash, and a change of clothes—and took off in a 1945 J-3 Piper Cub. Their mission: no itinerary, no air traffic control, and no distractions. Just the open sky and the open map of America.

PETER EGAN’S LANDINGS IN AMERICA TAKES MOTORCYCLISTS ON A HIGH-FLYING, NOSTALGIC JOURNEY

From the beloved Cycle World writer comes a memoir that trades handlebars for a propeller but keeps the same Egan soul.

Austin, Texas. June 1, 2025 – Landings in America may be Peter Egan’s first book about flying, but to any longtime reader of Cycle World, it’s unmistakably part of the same journey. In the summer of 1987, Egan and his wife Barb packed light—just a pup tent, a little cash, and a change of clothes—and took off in a 1945 J-3 Piper Cub. Their mission: no itinerary, no air traffic control, and no distractions. Just the open sky and the open map of America.

Over six weeks and 7,000 miles, the couple stitched together a patchwork of small towns, sleepy airfields, and impromptu campgrounds. The resulting story, told in Egan’s signature prose, is a reflection on motion, discovery, and meaning. The airborne format may have changed, but the soul of this book is pure motorcycling—free-spirited travel, mechanical simplicity, and the moments of peace that happen when you’re far from the freeway.

“Punctuated with Egan’s beloved wit and observant prose, Landings in America is more than a flight log—it’s a heartfelt journey through time, memory, and meaning.” — Octane Press

Landings in America is a companion for anyone who’s ever turned down a dirt road, chosen the long way home, or camped beside their bike just to hear the world go quiet. Egan may have traded handlebars for a control stick, but the ride is as familiar and fulfilling as ever.

The book will be released to the public in August 2025 and will be available everywhere books are sold. Readers can pre-order the book directly from Octane Press here.

Interviews with Peter Egan, review copies, excerpts, sample spreads, and images available to the media upon request. sarah@octanepress.com

Access Media Packet

About the Author

Peter Egan is one of the most revered names in motorcycle journalism. Best known for his decades-long work with Cycle World, Egan’s essays and travelogues capture the heart of two-wheel life: the machines, the mishaps, and the quiet beauty of a long road home. He’s also a Vietnam veteran, a former foreign car mechanic, a licensed pilot, and a lifelong road trip romantic.

Egan’s career took off after he sent a freelance travel story to Cycle World while wrenching on cars in Wisconsin. By 1980, he was on staff in California. A few years later, he added Road & Track to his portfolio and spent decades writing for both magazines. In between deadlines, he and Barb got their pilot’s licenses, bought a Cub, and—true to form—used it to explore the same kind of places they once visited by bike. Today, they live in rural Wisconsin, surrounded by old motorcycles, guitars, and memories.