Abs ract : A two-dimensional air impinging jet with a passive control has been studied experimentally, and smoke visualization, measurement of mean flow characteristics, and mass transfer experiments have been performed. Investigated flow field is intrinsically bistable, and two flow patterns exist under the same boundary conditions. The both patterns differ in a "bubble of separated flow", either a small or large recirculation area is embraced inside the jet. A change between flow field patterns is hysteretic in character. The large recirculation area bridges the whole nozzle-to-wall spacing, and seems to be very promising for an augmentation of heat/mass transfer. t