A suspension lug for releasably suspends loads under aircraft. The
suspension lug has a lug eye and a threaded base and a rotation mechanism
is inserted into the threaded portion. When the suspension lug is
threaded into a compatible well in the load and the load is released from
the aircraft, the rotation mechanism causes the suspension lug to rotate
by ninety degrees from an initial orientation in which the face of the
lug eye is pointed in the direction of flight to a final orientation in
which the edge of the lug eye is pointed in the direction of flight. The
rotation of the lug eye significantly reduces the drag on the load. Also
described are methods of manufacturing and using the suspension lug of
the invention.