UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                ----------------

                                    FORM 10-Q

                                ----------------



            X  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
           ---           SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                  For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002

                                       OR

              TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
          ---            SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                     For the transition period from ___ to ___


                                ----------------

                          Commission File No. 33-10122

                                ----------------


                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                        State of Organization: California
                   IRS Employer Identification No. 94-3023671
                201 High Ridge Road, Stamford, Connecticut 06927
                           Telephone - (203) 357-3776


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant:(1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months,  and (2) has been subject to such filing  requirements
for the past 90 days.



                              Yes  X           No
                                  ---             ---





                       This document consists of 16 pages.



                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

            FORM 10-Q - For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2002




                                      INDEX



Part I.       Financial Information                                         Page


         Item 1.      Financial Statements (Unaudited)

              a)  Special Notice Regarding Financial Statements................3

              b)  Balance Sheets - June 30, 2002 and
                  December 31, 2001............................................4

              c)  Statements of Income - Three and Six Months
                  Ended June 30, 2002 and 2001.................................5

              d)  Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital
                  (Deficit) - Year Ended December 31, 2001
                  and Six Months Ended June 30, 2002...........................6

              e)  Statements of Cash Flows - Six Months
                  Ended June 30, 2002 and 2001.................................7

              f)  Notes to Financial Statements................................8

         Item 2.      Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                      Financial Condition and Results of Operations...........12



Part II.      Other Information

         Item 1.      Legal Proceedings.......................................15

         Item 6.      Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K........................15

         Signature    ........................................................16




                                       2



                          Part I. Financial Information
                          -----------------------------

Item 1.       Financial Statements

                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                  SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The Polaris Aircraft Income Fund III's (the  "Partnership")  Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q ("Form  10-Q") for the period ended June 30, 2002 is being filed on an
incomplete  basis as the  Partnership  has  been  unable  to  obtain  access  to
documents  in  the  possession  of  Arthur  Andersen,  the  previous  Certifying
Accountant,  in order to  provide  such  documents  to  Ernst & Young  LLP,  the
Partnership's  new  Certifying  Accountant.  As a  result,  Ernst & Young LLP is
unable to complete their timely  quarterly  review in accordance with Statements
of  Auditing  Standards  No.  71.  Once  Ernst & Young LLP has  completed  their
quarterly review of the financial  statements contained in the Form 10-Q for the
period ended June 30, 2002, the Partnership will file an amended Form 10-Q.


        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       3


                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                                 BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (Unaudited)
                                                      June 30,      December 31,
                                                        2002            2001
                                                        ----            ----

ASSETS:

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                           $  3,290,167   $  3,784,951

RENT AND OTHER RECEIVABLES, net of
    allowance for credit losses of $255,000 and
    $255,000 in 2002 and 2001                            161,836        161,516

AIRCRAFT HELD FOR SALE                                      --          370,000

AIRCRAFT ON OPERATING LEASES,
    net of accumulated depreciation
    of $30,221,521 in 2002 and $29,344,167
    in 2001                                            2,733,740      3,611,094
                                                    ------------   ------------

         Total Assets                               $  6,185,743   $  7,927,561
                                                    ============   ============


LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL (DEFICIT):

PAYABLE TO AFFILIATES                               $     82,987   $    467,332

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED
    LIABILITIES                                          125,178        162,636

DEFERRED INCOME                                          665,580        986,015
                                                    ------------   ------------

         Total Liabilities                               873,745      1,615,983
                                                    ------------   ------------

PARTNERS' CAPITAL (DEFICIT):
    General Partner                                   (3,787,792)    (3,880,841)
    Limited Partners, 499,950 units (499,960
      in 2001) issued and outstanding                  9,099,790     10,192,419
                                                    ------------   ------------

         Total Partners' Capital (Deficit)             5,311,998      6,311,578
                                                    ------------   ------------

         Total Liabilities and Partners' Capital
           (Deficit)                                $  6,185,743   $  7,927,561
                                                    ============   ============

        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       4



                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                              STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                   (Unaudited)



                               Three Months Ended          Six Months Ended
                                    June 30,                    June 30,

                                2002         2001          2002        2001
                                ----         ----          ----        ----
REVENUES:
   Rent from operating
     leases                  $   640,218  $ 1,666,428  $ 1,280,436  $ 4,551,589
   Interest                       14,253      137,385       27,163      297,211
   Gain on sale of aircraft      115,000         --        180,000         --
   Other                            --           --           --         20,998
                             -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

           Total Revenues        769,471    1,803,813    1,487,599    4,869,798
                             -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

EXPENSES:
   Depreciation                  438,161      747,877      877,354    1,506,801
   Management fees to
     general partner              17,406        2,890       34,044       (8,444)
   Interest                         --          3,269         --          4,960
   Operating                       3,722       49,440        8,198       53,162
   Legal fees                     18,963       91,556       21,158       92,931
   Administration and other       81,859      113,190      157,647      188,903
                             -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

           Total Expenses        560,111    1,008,222    1,098,401    1,838,313
                             -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

NET INCOME                   $   209,360  $   795,591  $   389,198  $ 3,031,485
                             ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

NET INCOME ALLOCATED TO
   THE GENERAL PARTNER       $   115,943  $   132,933  $   231,927  $   305,265
                             ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

NET INCOME ALLOCATED
   TO LIMITED PARTNERS       $    93,417  $   662,658  $   157,271  $ 2,726,220
                             ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

NET INCOME PER LIMITED
   PARTNERSHIP UNIT          $      0.19  $      1.33  $      0.31  $      5.45
                             ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       5


                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

              STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS' CAPITAL (DEFICIT)
                                   (Unaudited)


                                       Year Ended December 31, 2001 and
                                        Six Months Ended June 30, 2002
                                        ------------------------------

                                    General         Limited
                                    Partner        Partners         Total
                                    -------        --------         -----


Balance, December 31, 2000        $ (3,778,433)  $ 20,319,377   $ 16,540,944

   Net income                        1,171,934      1,342,125      2,514,059

   Cash distribution to partners    (1,274,342)   (11,469,083)   (12,743,425)
                                  ------------   ------------   ------------

Balance, December 31, 2001          (3,880,841)    10,192,419      6,311,578

   Net income                          231,927        157,271        389,198

   Cash distribution to partners      (138,878)    (1,249,900)    (1,388,778)
                                  ------------   ------------   ------------

Balance, June 30, 2002            $ (3,787,792)  $  9,099,790   $  5,311,998
                                  ============   ============   ============

        The accopmanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       6



                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)

                                                      Six Months Ended June 30,
                                                      -------------------------

                                                         2002          2001
                                                         ----          ----
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
     Net income                                     $    389,198   $  3,031,485
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to
       net cash provided by operating activities:
       Depreciation                                      877,354      1,506,801
       Gain on sale of aircraft                         (180,000)          --
       Changes in operating assets and
         liabilities:
          Decrease in other assets                          --           14,291
          (Increase) decrease in rent and other
            receivables                                     (320)       365,726
          Increase (decrease) in payable to
            affiliates                                  (384,345)       169,432
          Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
              and accrued liabilities                    (37,458)        29,070
          Increase (decrease) in deferred income        (320,435)    (2,655,089)
                                                    ------------   ------------

              Net cash provided by operating
                activities                               343,994      2,461,716
                                                    ------------   ------------

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
     Proceeds from sale of aircraft                      550,000           --
                                                    ------------   ------------

              Net cash provided by investing
                activities                               550,000           --
                                                    ------------   ------------

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
     Principal payments on notes payable                    --         (204,871)
     Cash distributions to partners                   (1,388,778)    (3,055,311)
                                                    ------------   ------------

              Net cash used in financing
                activities                            (1,388,778)    (3,260,182)
                                                    ------------   ------------

CHANGES IN CASH AND CASH
     EQUIVALENTS                                        (494,784)      (798,466)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
     BEGINNING OF PERIOD                               3,784,951     12,523,907
                                                    ------------   ------------

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
     END OF PERIOD                                  $  3,290,167   $ 11,725,441
                                                    ============   ============


SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
     Interest paid                                  $       --     $      4,960
                                                    ============   ============


        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                       7


                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (Unaudited)



1.       Organization and the Partnership

Polaris  Aircraft  Income  Fund  III,  A  California  Limited  Partnership  (the
"Partnership")  was formed on June 27,  1984 for the  purpose of  acquiring  and
leasing  aircraft.  The Partnership  will terminate no later than December 2020.
Upon  organization,  both the General  Partner and the initial  Limited  Partner
contributed  $500 to capital.  The Partnership  recognized no profits and losses
during the periods ended  December 31, 1984 and 1985. The offering of depositary
units  ("Units"),  representing  assignments  of Limited  Partnership  interest,
terminated on September 30, 1987 at which time the  Partnership had sold 500,000
Units of $500, representing $250,000,000.  All Unit holders were admitted to the
Partnership on or before September 30, 1987.  During January 1998, 40 Units were
redeemed  by the  Partnership  in  accordance  with  section  18 of the  Limited
Partnership  agreement.  During June 2002, 10 Units were abandoned.  At June 30,
2002, there were 499,950 Units outstanding, net of redemptions.

Polaris Investment Management  Corporation ("PIMC"), the sole General Partner of
the Partnership (the "General Partner"), supervises the day-to-day operations of
the  Partnership.   Polaris   Depository  Company  III  ("PDC")  serves  as  the
depositary.  PIMC and PDC are  wholly-owned  subsidiaries  of  Polaris  Aircraft
Leasing  Corporation  ("PALC").  Polaris  Holding  Company ("PHC") is the parent
company  of PALC.  General  Electric  Capital  Corporation  ("GE  Capital"),  an
affiliate of General Electric  Company,  owns 100% of PHC's  outstanding  common
stock. PIMC has entered into a services  agreement dated as of July 1, 1994 with
GE Capital Aviation Services,  Inc.  ("GECAS").  Amounts paid and allocations to
affiliates are described in Notes 4 and 5.

At June 30,  2002,  the  Partnership  owned a portfolio  of four used  McDonnell
Douglas  DC-9-30  commercial  jet aircraft  out of its original  portfolio of 38
aircraft. All of these aircraft are on lease to TWA Airlines LLC.


2.      Accounting Principles and Policies

In the opinion of management,  the financial statements presented herein include
all  adjustments,  consisting  only of  normal  recurring  items,  necessary  to
summarize fairly the Partnership's  financial  position,  results of operations,
and cash flows.  The financial  statements have been prepared in accordance with
the  instructions  of the  Quarterly  Report  to  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  ("SEC") Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note
disclosures  required by accounting  principles generally accepted in the United
States  ("GAAP").  These  statements  should  be read in  conjunction  with  the
financial  statements  and notes thereto for the years ended  December 31, 2001,
2000,  and 1999 included in the  Partnership's  2001 Annual Report to the SEC on
Form 10-K.


3.       TWA Bankruptcy Filing and Transaction with American Airlines

TWA filed a voluntary  petition  in the United  States  Bankruptcy  Court of the
District of Delaware (the "Bankruptcy  Court") for  reorganization  relief under
Chapter 11 of the  Bankruptcy  Code on January 10, 2001. One day prior to filing

                                       8


its  bankruptcy  petition,  TWA entered into an Asset  Purchase  Agreement  with
American Airlines,  Inc.  ("American") that provided for the sale to American of
substantially all of TWA's assets and permitted  American to exclude certain TWA
contracts  (including  aircraft leases) from the assets of TWA to be acquired by
American.  On February 28, 2001,  American  presented the General Partner with a
written proposal to assume,  on modified terms and conditions,  seven of the ten
then existing leases  (collectively the "Previous Leases").  The General Partner
decided to accept American's proposal, although consummation of the transactions
with  American  remained  subject to a number of  contingencies,  including  the
approval of the Bankruptcy Court and other regulatory approvals.

On April 9,  2001,  the  American  acquisition  of the  selected  TWA assets was
consummated.  As a result of this  closing,  TWA  Airlines  LLC, a wholly  owned
subsidiary of American ("TWA LLC"),  assumed the Previous  Leases  applicable to
seven of the ten Aircraft, and simultaneously, such Previous Leases were amended
to incorporate modified terms (as so assumed and amended, the "Assumed Leases").
The Assumed Leases are substantially  less favorable to the Partnership than the
Previous  Leases.  In particular,  the monthly rental rate for each Aircraft was
reduced from $85,000 to $40,000,  and the reduced rate was made  effective as of
March 12, 2001 by a rent credit  granted to TWA LLC for the amount of rent above
$40,000 previously paid by TWA in respect of the period from and after March 12,
2001. In addition,  the term of each Assumed Lease is scheduled to expire at the
time of the next scheduled heavy maintenance  check of the applicable  Aircraft,
compared to the  scheduled  expiry date of November  27, 2004 under the Previous
Leases, provided that the aggregate average number of months for which all seven
Aircraft  are on lease to TWA LLC were not less  than 22  months  from and after
March 12, 2001. Finally, the maintenance  condition of the aircraft to be met at
lease  expiry was eased in favor of TWA LLC, as  compared  to the  corresponding
conditions required under the Previous Leases.

With respect to the three  Aircraft  that TWA LLC did not elect to acquire,  TWA
officially   rejected  the  Previous   Leases   applicable  to  these   Aircraft
(collectively,  the "Rejected  Leases") as of April 20, 2001. All three Aircraft
have  been  returned  to the  Partnership.  As  aircraft  were  returned  to the
Partnership  they were parked in storage in Arizona  while the  General  Partner
remarketed  them for sale. The three aircraft were sold on October 19, 2001, for
$535,000,  resulting  in  neither  a gain  nor a loss  for the  Partnership.  In
addition, the General Partner has filed administrative rent claims in the amount
of $465,277 in the TWA  bankruptcy  proceeding  in an effort to recover the fair
value of TWA's  actual use, if any, of these three  Aircraft  under the Rejected
Leases  during  the  60-day  period  following  TWA's  filing of its  bankruptcy
petition. These administrative rent claims have been approved by the estate with
the plan of reorganization on June 25, 2002 (the "Plan") and will be paid to the
Partnership  through periodic  distributions over the next one to two years. The
General Partner also filed administrative claims in the amount of $64,254 in the
TWA bankruptcy  proceeding in connection with certain legal expenses incurred by
the Partnership in connection with the bankruptcy  proceeding which were settled
for $47,861 with the estate under the Plan. Furthermore, the General Partner has
filed  general  unsecured  claims for damages  arising  from TWA's breach of the
Rejected Leases. However, there can be no assurances as to whether, or when, the
General  Partner  will be  successful  in  asserting  the  value of the  general
unsecured  claims or be able to collect any  amounts  out of the TWA  bankruptcy
estate.

The Accounting Treatment of the TWA Transaction
In accordance with GAAP, the Partnership recognized rental income and management
fees on a straight  line basis over the  original  lease  terms of the  Previous
Leases. As a result,  deferred revenue and accrued management fees were recorded
each month since the inception of each Previous Lease,  resulting in balances of
deferred  rental income and accrued  management fees of $3,899,131 and $180,107,
respectively,  as of March 12, 2001.  Since the Previous Leases were effectively
modified on March 12, 2001, the Partnership  recognized the balances of deferred
revenue and accrued  management fees over the new lease terms, from the date the
leases were modified.  For the three Rejected  Leases,  the deferred revenue and

                                       9


accrued  management  fees amounting to $1,275,431 and $59,691 were recognized as
rental revenue and a reduction of management fee,  respectively,  in March 2001.
For the  Assumed  Leases,  the  deferred  revenue and  accrued  management  fees
associated with each Aircraft were recognized over the new lease terms,  ranging
from 2 months  to 33  months  as of March 31,  2001.  As of June 30,  2002,  the
Partnership had deferred  revenue balance of $665,580,  and deferred  management
fee balance of $30,463  included in Payable to Affiliates on the Balance  Sheet,
which will be recognized over the remaining life of the aircraft leases, varying
between 6 and 18 months.



4.      Related Parties

Under the Limited Partnership  Agreement,  the Partnership paid or agreed to pay
the following  amounts for the current quarter to the General Partner,  PIMC, in
connection with services rendered or payments made on behalf of the Partnership:

                                     Payments made during the
                                        Three Months Ended          Payable at
                                           June 30, 2002           June 30, 2002
                                           -------------           -------------

Aircraft Management Fees                      $217,205                $ 38,463

Out-of-Pocket Operating
    Expense Reimbursement                       47,365                  -

Out-of-Pocket Administrative
    Expense Reimbursement                      136,722                  44,524
                                              --------                 -------

                                              $401,292                $ 82,987
                                              ========                ========


5.      Partners' Capital (Deficit)

The Partnership  Agreement (the  "Agreement")  stipulates  different  methods by
which revenue,  income and loss from  operations and gain or loss on the sale of
aircraft are to be allocated  to the General  Partner and the limited  partners.
Such  allocations are made using income or loss  calculated  under GAAP for book
purposes, which varies from income or loss calculated for tax purposes.

Cash  available  for  distributions,  including  the  proceeds  from the sale of
aircraft,  is  distributed  10% to the  General  Partner  and 90% to the limited
partners.

The different methods of allocating items of income, loss and cash available for
distribution  combined with the calculation of items of income and loss for book
and  tax  purposes  result  in  book  basis  capital   accounts  that  may  vary
significantly  from tax basis capital  accounts.  The ultimate  liquidation  and
distribution  of remaining cash will be based on the tax basis capital  accounts
following liquidation, in accordance with the Agreement.

                                       10




6.       Sale of Aircraft

On  February  13,  2002 PIMC,  on behalf of the  Partnership,  sold one  DC-9-30
aircraft to Amtec Corporation for $250,000 in cash. The Partnership recognized a
gain of $65,000  over its book  value.  On May 29,  2002 PIMC,  on behalf of the
Partnership,  sold one DC-9-30  aircraft to American  Airlines  for  $300,000 in
cash. The Partnership recognized a gain of $115,000 over its book value.


7.       New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") approved for
issuance   Statement  of  Financial   Accounting   Standard  ("SFAS")  No.  143,
"Accounting for Asset  Retirement  Obligations."  SFAS No. 143 requires that the
fair value of a liability  for an asset  retirement  obligation be recognized in
the period in which it is  incurred  and that the  associated  asset  retirement
costs be  capitalized  as part of the carrying  value of the related  long-lived
asset.  SFAS No.  143 will be  effective  January  1, 2003 for the  Partnership.
Management  does not  expect  this  standard  to have a  material  impact on the
Partnership's balance sheet or statement of operations.

                                       11


Item 2.       Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of Financial  Condition and
              Results of Operations

Business Overview

At June 30,  2002,  Polaris  Aircraft  Income  Fund III,  A  California  Limited
Partnership (the "Partnership") owned a portfolio of four used McDonnell Douglas
DC-9-30  commercial  jet aircraft out of its original  portfolio of 38 aircraft.
All of these aircraft are on lease to TWA Airlines LLC.


TWA Bankruptcy Filing and Transaction with American Airlines

TWA filed a voluntary  petition  in the United  States  Bankruptcy  Court of the
District of Delaware (the "Bankruptcy  Court") for  reorganization  relief under
Chapter 11 of the  Bankruptcy  Code on January 10, 2001. One day prior to filing
its  bankruptcy  petition,  TWA entered into an Asset  Purchase  Agreement  with
American  that provided for the sale to American of  substantially  all of TWA's
assets and  permitted  American  to exclude  certain  TWA  contracts  (including
aircraft leases) from the assets of TWA to be acquired by American.  On February
28,  2001,  American  presented  the  General  Partner of the  Partnership  (the
"General  Partner")  with a written  proposal to assume,  on modified  terms and
conditions,  seven of the ten then existing leases  (collectively  the "Previous
Leases").  The General Partner decided to accept American's  proposal,  although
consummation of the transactions  with American  remained subject to a number of
contingencies,  including  the  approval  of  the  Bankruptcy  Court  and  other
regulatory approvals.

On April 9,  2001,  the  American  acquisition  of the  selected  TWA assets was
consummated.  As a result of this  closing,  TWA  Airlines  LLC, a wholly  owned
subsidiary of American ("TWA LLC"),  assumed the Previous  Leases  applicable to
seven of the ten Aircraft, and simultaneously, such Previous Leases were amended
to incorporate modified terms (as so assumed and amended, the "Assumed Leases").
The Assumed Leases are substantially  less favorable to the Partnership than the
Previous  Leases.  In particular,  the monthly rental rate for each Aircraft was
reduced from $85,000 to $40,000,  and the reduced rate was made  effective as of
March 12, 2001 by a rent credit  granted to TWA LLC for the amount of rent above
$40,000 previously paid by TWA in respect of the period from and after March 12,
2001. In addition,  the term of each Assumed Lease is scheduled to expire at the
time of the next scheduled heavy maintenance  check of the applicable  Aircraft,
compared to the  scheduled  expiry date of November  27, 2004 under the Previous
Leases, provided that the aggregate average number of months for which all seven
Aircraft  are on lease to TWA LLC were not less  than 22  months  from and after
March 12, 2001. Finally, the maintenance  condition of the aircraft to be met at
lease  expiry was eased in favor of TWA LLC, as  compared  to the  corresponding
conditions required under the Previous Leases.

With respect to the three  Aircraft  that TWA LLC did not elect to acquire,  TWA
officially   rejected  the  Previous   Leases   applicable  to  these   Aircraft
(collectively,  the "Rejected  Leases") as of April 20, 2001. All three Aircraft
have  been  returned  to the  Partnership.  As  aircraft  were  returned  to the
Partnership  they were parked in storage in Arizona  while the  General  Partner
remarketed  them for sale. The three aircraft were sold on October 19, 2001, for
$535,000,  resulting  in  neither  a gain  nor a loss  for the  Partnership.  In
addition, the General Partner has filed administrative rent claims in the amount
of $465,277 in the TWA  bankruptcy  proceeding  in an effort to recover the fair
value of TWA's  actual use, if any, of these three  Aircraft  under the Rejected
Leases  during  the  60-day  period  following  TWA's  filing of its  bankruptcy
petition. These administrative rent claims have been approved by the estate with
the plan of reorganization on June 25, 2002 (the "Plan") and will be paid to the
Partnership  through periodic  distributions over the next one to two years. The

                                       12


General Partner also filed administrative claims in the amount of $64,254 in the
TWA bankruptcy  proceeding in connection with certain legal expenses incurred by
the Partnership in connection with the bankruptcy  proceeding which were settled
for $47,861 with the estate under the Plan. Furthermore, the General Partner has
filed  general  unsecured  claims for damages  arising  from TWA's breach of the
Rejected Leases. However, there can be no assurances as to whether, or when, the
General  Partner  will be  successful  in  asserting  the  value of the  general
unsecured  claims or be able to collect any  amounts  out of the TWA  bankruptcy
estate.

The Accounting Treatment of the TWA Transaction
In accordance with GAAP, the Partnership recognized rental income and management
fees on a straight  line basis over the  original  lease  terms of the  Previous
Leases. As a result,  deferred revenue and accrued management fees were recorded
each month since the inception of each Previous Lease,  resulting in balances of
deferred  rental income and accrued  management fees of $3,899,131 and $180,107,
respectively,  as of March 12, 2001.  Since the Previous Leases were effectively
modified on March 12, 2001, the Partnership  recognized the balances of deferred
revenue and accrued  management fees over the new lease terms, from the date the
leases were modified.  For the three Rejected  Leases,  the deferred revenue and
accrued  management  fees amounting to $1,275,431 and $59,691 were recognized as
rental revenue and a reduction of management fee,  respectively,  in March 2001.
For the  Assumed  Leases,  the  deferred  revenue and  accrued  management  fees
associated with each Aircraft were recognized over the new lease terms,  ranging
from 2 months  to 33  months  as of March 31,  2001.  As of June 30,  2002,  the
Partnership had deferred  revenue balance of $665,580,  and deferred  management
fee balance of $30,463  included in Payable to Affiliates on the Balance  Sheet,
which will be recognized over the remaining life of the aircraft leases, varying
between 6 and 18 months.


Partnership Operations

The  Partnership  recorded  net  income  of  $209,360,   or  $0.19  per  limited
partnership  unit,  for the three months ended June 30, 2002, as compared to net
income of $795,591,  or $1.33 per limited partnership unit, for the three months
ended June 30, 2001. The Partnership  recorded net income of $389,198,  or $0.31
per limited partnership unit, for the six months ended June 30, 2002 compared to
net income of  $3,031,485  or $5.45 per limited  partnership  unit,  for the six
months ended June 30, 2001.  The  decreases in net income are  primarily  due to
decreases in rental and interest  income and  increased  management  fees to the
general partner  partially offset by an increase in gain on sale of aircraft and
a decrease in depreciation, operating and legal fee expense, as discussed below.

Rent from operating leases decreased to $640,218 and $1,280,436 in the three and
six months ended June 30, 2002, as compared to $1,666,428 and $4,551,589 for the
respective  periods in 2001.  This was  primarily  due to lower  lease rates and
fewer aircraft on lease as a result of the TWA bankruptcy and the recognition of
less deferred revenue of $160,218 and $320,435 in the three and six months ended
June 30, 2002 as compared to $839,760 and  $1,731,328 of deferred  revenue being
recognized  in the  respective  periods  in 2001.  As  discussed  in Note 3, the
deferred  revenue  existing at the time of the lease  revisions in March 2001 is
being  recognized over the new lease terms for the Accepted  Aircraft,  while it
was recognized upon lease rejection for the three Rejected Aircraft.

Interest income  decreased  during the three and six months ended June 30, 2002,
as compared to the same  periods in 2001,  primarily  due to lower  average cash
balances and a lower rate of return on those cash balances.

                                       13



Gain on sale of aircraft  increased  during the three and six months  ended June
30, 2002, as compared to the same periods in 2001, due to the sale of two of the
Partnership's aircraft during 2002, resulting in a gain of $180,000.

Depreciation  expense  decreased  during the six months ended June 30, 2002,  as
compared to the same period in 2001,  primarily due to fewer aircraft  remaining
on lease.

Management  fees to general  partner  increased  during the three and six months
ended June 30,  2002 as  compared to the same  periods in 2001,  primarily  as a
result of the deferred  management fees being  recognized for the three Rejected
Leases and leases  expiring  during the three  months ended June 30, 2001 due to
the TWA bankruptcy.

Operating expense decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2002,
as  compared  to the same  periods in 2001,  primarily  due to  maintenance  and
storage  related costs in the 2001 periods  associated with the aircraft as they
came off  lease  and were  held for  sale.  At  present  there  are no  aircraft
remaining in storage.

Legal expenses decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2002, as
compared to the same periods in 2001,  primarily due to the high costs  incurred
in the 2001 periods in connection  with the TWA Bankruptcy and partially  offset
in 2002 by fees  incurred to comply with an SEC prompted  court order related to
transfers of units to entities owned by George Hoffman.

Administration and other expense decreased during the three and six months ended
June 30, 2002,  as compared to the same periods in 2001,  primarily due to extra
printing  and postage  expenses  incurred in 2001 due to the  issuance of an 8-K
related to the TWA bankruptcy.



Liquidity and Cash Distributions

Liquidity - The Partnership  received all payments due from its sole lessee, TWA
Airlines  LLC, for the  aircraft  remaining on lease during the six months ended
June 30, 2002.

PIMC, the General Partner,  has determined that cash reserves be maintained as a
prudent  measure to ensure that the Partnership has available funds in the event
that the aircraft presently on lease to TWA require  remarketing,  and for other
contingencies,  including  expenses of the Partnership.  The Partnership's  cash
reserves  will be  monitored  and may be  revised  from time to time as  further
information becomes available in the future.

Cash Distributions - There were no cash distributions to limited partners during
the  three  months  ended  June  30,  2002  compared  to cash  distributions  of
$1,240,900, or $2.50 per limited partnership unit, during the three months ended
June 30, 2001.  Cash  distributions  to limited  partners  during the six months
ended June 30, 2002 and 2001 were $1,249,900,  or $2.50 per limited  partnership
unit, and $2,749,780,  or $5.50 per limited partnership unit, respectively.  The
timing and amount of future cash distributions are not yet known and will depend
on  the  Partnership's  future  cash  requirements  (including  expenses  of the
Partnership),  the need to retain cash reserves as  previously  discussed in the
Liquidity  section,  the receipt of rental  payments  from TWA LLC, and payments
generated from aircraft sales proceeds.

                                       14


                           Part II. Other Information
                           --------------------------


Item 1.       Legal Proceedings

As  discussed  in Item 3 of Part I of Polaris  Aircraft  Income  Fund III's (the
"Partnership")  2001 Annual  Report to the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission
("SEC") on Form 10-K ("Form 10-K") and in Item 1 of Part II of the Partnership's
Quarterly  Report to the SEC on Form 10-Q  ("Form  10-Q") for the  period  ended
March 31, 2002, there are several pending legal actions or proceedings involving
the Partnership.  There have been no material  developments  with respect to any
such actions or proceedings during the period covered by this report.

Other Proceedings - Item 10 of Part III of the Partnership's  2001 Form 10-K and
Item 1 of Part II of the Partnership's Quarterly Reports to the SEC on Form 10-Q
for the period  ended March 31, 2002  discuss  certain  actions  which have been
filed against Polaris Investment Management Corporation and others in connection
with  the  sale  of  interests  in the  Partnership  and the  management  of the
Partnership. The Partnership is not a party to these actions. There have been no
material  developments  with  respect to any of the  actions  described  therein
during the period covered by this report.

Item 6.       Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

a)       Exhibits (numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K)

         99.1 Certification of President

         99.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer.

b)       Reports on Form 8-K

         No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Registrant  during the quarter
         for which this report is filed.  As described in greater detail in Item
         4 of the  Current  Report  on Form 8-K  dated  August 1, 2002 and first
         filed by the  Partnership on or about August 2, 2002,  the  Partnership
         adopted a resolution dismissing Arthur Andersen LLP ("Andersen") as the
         Partnership's  auditors  and  appointed  Ernst & Young  LLP to  replace
         Andersen.



                                       15




                                    SIGNATURE



Pursuant to the  requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                                A California Limited Partnership
                                (Registrant)
                                By: Polaris Investment
                                    Management Corporation,
                                    General Partner




     August 19, 2002                By: /S/Stephen E. Yost
- --------------------------              ----------------------------------------
                                        Stephen E. Yost, Chief Financial Officer



                                       16