In this study, breakdown characteristics of a vertical sphere-plane air gap in the presence of combustion flame were examined under the application of a.c. and d.c. high-voltages in order to investigate the effect of flame on the dielectric strength of air. Propane gas is used as the fuel of the flame, and the temperature distribution of air around the flame is measured. The polarity effects for the d.c. voltages and breakdown voltages of air when applied both of a.c. and d.c. voltages were examined in the case of the variation of the gap length and the horizontal distance between the flame and the high-voltage sphere electrode. The influence of relative air density, electrification and shape changes of the flame as factors that affect the breakdown voltages were discussed.