A pylon for mounting to a bottom surface of an aircraft and for carrying an external payload is provided. The pylon comprises a body spanning along a vertical axis between an upper face and a lower face, the upper face comprising one or more mounting arrangements configured to facilitate mounting the pylon to the bottom surface of the aircraft, the lower face comprising at least one suspension mechanism configured to facilitate selective attachment of the payload to the pylon. The pylon further comprises a covering arrangement configured for selective shifting between a closed position in which it covers the suspension mechanism and an open position in which the suspension mechanism is uncovered. The width of the body varies smoothly along the vertical axis between, inclusively, the upper and lower faces.