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 September 30, 2004

                                       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
                                  ---             ---

Indicate  by check mark  whether  the  registrant  is an  accelerated  filer (as
defined in rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes      No  X
                                                 ---     ---

                       This document consists of 15 pages.



                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

          FORM 10-Q - For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2004




                                      INDEX



Part I.    Financial Information                                            Page


         Item 1.      Financial Statements (Unaudited)

              a) Condensed Balance Sheets - September 30, 2004 and
                  December 31, 2003............................................3

              b) Condensed Statements of Operations - Three and Nine Months
                  Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003............................4

              c)  Condensed Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital
                  (Deficit) - Year Ended December 31, 2003
                  and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004.....................5

              d)  Condensed Statements of Cash Flows - Nine Months
                  Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003............................6

              e)  Notes to Condensed Financial Statements......................7

         Item 2.      Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                      Financial Condition and Results of Operations...........10

         Item 4.      Controls and Procedures.................................13



Part II.   Other Information

         Item 1.      Legal Proceedings.......................................14

         Item 6.      Exhibits................................................14

         Signature    ........................................................15

                                       2



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

Item 1.    Financial Statements

                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                            CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                    September 30,   December 31,
                                                        2004            2003
                                                        ----            ----

ASSETS:

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                             $ 1,664,808   $ 2,524,997

RECEIVABLE FROM AFFILIATE                                  20,880          --

OTHER RECEIVABLES                                           1,147         1,836

AIRCRAFT HELD FOR SALE                                    570,000       400,000

PREPAID EXPENSE                                             1,138          --
                                                      -----------   -----------

         Total Assets                                 $ 2,257,973   $ 2,926,833
                                                      ===========   ===========


LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL (DEFICIT):

PAYABLE TO AFFILIATES                                 $      --     $    96,353

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED
    LIABILITIES                                            66,221        54,420
                                                      -----------   -----------

         Total Liabilities                                 66,221       150,773
                                                      -----------   -----------

PARTNERS' CAPITAL (DEFICIT):
    General Partner                                    (3,868,519)   (3,862,671)
    Limited Partners, 499,553 units in 2004
      and 499,683 units in 2003
      issued and outstanding                            6,060,271     6,638,731
                                                      -----------   -----------

         Total Partners' Capital                        2,191,752     2,776,060
                                                      -----------   -----------

         Total Liabilities and Partners' Capital      $ 2,257,973   $ 2,926,833
                                                      ===========   ===========

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed statements.

                                       3



                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                       CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)




                                            Three Months Ended          Nine Months Ended
                                               September 30,               September 30,
                                               -------------               -------------

                                           2004            2003        2004           2003
                                           ----            ----        ----           ----
                                                                      
REVENUES:
   Rent from operating leases           $      --     $   441,109   $      --     $ 1,376,965
   Interest                                   7,973         5,555        17,958        17,624
   Lessee return condition settlements         --          44,270          --          44,270
   Lessee settlements                        81,458          --         163,982        76,279
                                        -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

           Total Revenues                    89,431       490,934       181,940     1,515,138
                                        -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

EXPENSES:
   Depreciation                                --         803,786          --       1,466,624
   Write-up of aircraft held for sale      (101,800)         --        (170,000)         --
   Management fees to general partner          --          12,386          --          38,510
   Operating                                 37,791        13,472       121,519        42,604
   Administration and other                  69,287        85,688       259,526       258,777
                                        -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

           Total Expenses                     5,278       915,332       211,045     1,806,515
                                        -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

NET INCOME (LOSS)                       $    84,153   $  (424,398)  $   (29,105)  $  (291,377)
                                        ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========

NET INCOME (LOSS) ALLOCATED
   TO THE GENERAL PARTNER               $       841   $    (4,244)  $    49,672   $   197,478
                                        ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========

NET INCOME (LOSS) ALLOCATED
   TO LIMITED PARTNERS                  $    83,312   $  (420,154)  $   (78,777)  $  (488,855)
                                        ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER LIMITED
   PARTNERSHIP UNIT                     $      0.16   $     (0.84)  $     (0.16)  $     (0.98)
                                        ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========


   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed statements.

                                       4


                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

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


                                            Year Ended December 31, 2003 and
                                          Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004

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

Balance, December 31, 2002              $(3,784,552)  $ 9,420,501   $ 5,635,949

    Net income (loss)                       199,561      (282,650)      (83,089)

    Cash distribution to partners
       ($5.00 per Limited
       Partnership Unit)                   (277,680)   (2,499,120)   (2,776,800)
                                        -----------   -----------   -----------

Balance, December 31, 2003               (3,862,671)    6,638,731     2,776,060

    Net income (loss)                        49,672       (78,777)      (29,105)

    Cash distribution to partners
       ($1.00 per Limited
       Partnership Unit)                    (55,520)     (499,683)     (555,203)
                                        -----------   -----------   -----------

Balance, September 30, 2004             $(3,868,519)  $ 6,060,271   $ 2,191,752
                                        ===========   ===========   ===========


   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed statements.

                                       5



                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                       CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                        Nine Months Ended
                                                          September 30,
                                                       2004           2003
                                                       ----           ----

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
     Net loss                                      $   (29,105)  $  (291,377)
     Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
      cash (used in) provided by operating
      activities:
      Depreciation                                        --       1,466,624
      Write-up of aircraft held for sale              (170,000)         --
       Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
          Increase in receivable from affiliate        (20,880)         --
          Decrease in rent and other receivables           689        97,855
          (Decrease) increase in payable to
            affiliates                                 (96,353)        4,617
          Increase (decrease) in accounts
            payable and accrued liabilities             11,801       (59,481)
          Decrease in deferred income                     --        (316,966)
          Increase in prepaid expense                   (1,138)       (4,126)
                                                   -----------   -----------

          Net cash (used in) provided by
            operating activities                      (304,986)      897,146
                                                   -----------   -----------

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
     Cash distributions to partners                   (555,203)   (2,776,800)
                                                   -----------   -----------

          Net cash used in financing
            activities                                (555,203)   (2,776,800)
                                                   -----------   -----------

CHANGES IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                  (860,189)   (1,879,654)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
     BEGINNING OF PERIOD                             2,524,997     4,118,926
                                                   -----------   -----------

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
     END OF PERIOD                                 $ 1,664,808   $ 2,239,272
                                                   ===========   ===========

NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
    Transfer of operating lease assets to
    assets held for sale                           $      --     $   100,000
                                                   ===========   ===========

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed statements.

                                       6


                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                     NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (Unaudited)



Note 1.  Organization and the Partnership

Polaris Aircraft Income Fund III, A California Limited Partnership  (PAIF-III or
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 or losses
during the periods  ended  December  31,  1984,  1985 and 1986.  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 and are referred to
collectively  as the  Limited  Partners.  During  January  1998,  40 units  were
redeemed  by the  Partnership  in  accordance  with  section  18 of the  Limited
Partnership  Agreement.  During the nine months ended  September  30, 2004,  130
units  were  abandoned.   At  September  30,  2004,  there  were  499,553  units
outstanding, net of redemptions.

As of September 30, 2004, the Partnership owned four aircraft.  On September 20,
2004, the Partnership entered into a Letter of Intent to sell its four remaining
aircraft to an  unaffiliated  buyer for a total selling price of $800,000.  Upon
completion of such sale, the Partnership plans to liquidate all its assets in an
orderly  manner,  make  a  final  distribution  and  terminate  the  Partnership
thereafter;  however,  it is uncertain when this liquidation  will occur.  While
there can be no  assurance  as to either the timing of such sale or whether such
sale may be completed, the General Partner intends to seek to complete such sale
during the fourth quarter of 2004.

Polaris Investment  Management  Corporation  (PIMC), the sole General Partner of
the  Partnership,  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 3 and
4.


Note 2.  Accounting Principles and Policies

In the opinion of  management,  the  condensed  financial  statements  presented
herein  include all  adjustments,  consisting  only of normal  recurring  items,
necessary to summarize fairly the Partnership's  financial  position and results
of operations.  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.  The condensed  balance sheet at December 31, 2003,
has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not
include all of the  information  and note  disclosures  required  by  accounting
principles  generally  accepted in the United States  (GAAP).  These  statements

                                       7



should be read in  conjunction  with the financial  statements and notes thereto
for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2003,  2002,  and  2001  included  in the
Partnership's 2003 Annual Report to the SEC on Form 10-K.


Note 3.  Related Parties

Under the Limited  Partnership  Agreement (the Agreement),  the Partnership paid
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
                                                         September 30, 2004
                                                         ------------------

Out-of-Pocket Operating
    Expense Reimbursement                                     $ 68,264

Out-of-Pocket Administrative
    Expense Reimbursement                                      178,363
                                                              --------

                                                              $246,627
                                                              ========

As of  September  30,  2004,  the  Partnership  also has a net  Receivable  from
Affiliate of $20,880  which is comprised of a receivable  due from PIMC totaling
$37,383  (see Note 6) and a payable due to PIMC  totaling  $16,503  representing
reimbursement of out-of-pocket administrative expenses.


Note 4.  Partners' Capital

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.


Note 5.  Aircraft and Depreciation

The Partnership periodically reviews the estimated realizability of the residual
values at the projected end of each  aircraft's  economic life. For any downward
adjustment in estimated  residual  value or decrease in the projected  remaining
economic life, the depreciation  expense over the projected  remaining  economic
life of the aircraft has been increased.

                                       8



Aircraft on lease were carried at cost unless deemed impaired, in which case the
asset was recorded at fair value. Aircraft on lease were deemed impaired, if the
projected  net cash flow for each aircraft  (projected  rental  revenue,  net of
management  fees, less projected  maintenance  costs, if any, plus the estimated
residual value) was less than the carrying value of the aircraft.  An impairment
loss was  recognized  equal to the excess of the net carrying value of the asset
over its fair value.

Aircraft  held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value less cost
to sell.  During  the  three and nine  months  ended  September  30,  2004,  the
Partnership recognized a write-up of $101,800 and $170,000, respectively, in the
carrying value of aircraft held for sale due to changes in estimated fair market
values based on the selling price of the Partnership's four aircraft in a Letter
of Intent to sell dated  September 20, 2004. The adjustments to increase the net
carrying  value did not result in a net carrying value in excess of the original
net carrying value of the assets when they were initially designated as held for
sale.  Management believes the assumptions related to the fair value of impaired
assets  represent  the  best  estimates  based  on  reasonable  and  supportable
assumptions and projections.


Note 6.  Subsequent Events

On November 5, 2004, the Partnership  received a payment of $85,853 representing
a  distribution  from an  original  administrative  rent  claim in the amount of
$465,277  filed against a former  lessee's  bankrupt  estate.  Also, in November
2004,  the  Partnership  received a payment of $35,683 (plus interest of $1,700)
representing  a  distribution  associated  with the original rent claim that was
remitted by the  bankruptcy  estate to GECAS in December  2002.  This payment is
included in Lessee  Settlements on the Statement of Operations for the three and
nine  months  ended  September  30,  2004 and is  included  in  Receivable  from
Affiliate as of September 30, 2004. Further,  the Partnership expects to receive
an additional  payment  totaling $92,535 from the bankruptcy  estate  associated
with the administrative rent claim during the fourth quarter of 2004. As such it
is  expected  that  the  Partnership  will  ultimately   received  100%  of  the
administrative claim amount.

                                       9



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

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain portions of this Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q contain  forward-looking
statements that are based on management's expectations,  estimates,  projections
and assumptions.  Words such as "expects",  "anticipates",  "plans", "believes",
"scheduled",  "estimates" and variations of these words and similar  expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking  statements,  which include but are not
limited to projections of revenues,  earnings,  cash flows, aircraft disposition
and the like.  Forward-looking  statements  are made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.
These  statements are not guarantees of future  performance  and involve certain
risks and  uncertainties,  which are  difficult  to predict.  Therefore,  actual
future  results  and trends  may  differ  materially  from what is  forecast  in
forward-looking  statements  due to a variety  of  factors,  including,  without
limitation:

        --General U.S. and international political and economic conditions;

        --Changing  demand  preferences  for business  aircraft,  including  the
          effects of economic conditions on the business-aircraft market;

All forward-looking  statements speak only as of the date of this report, or, in
the case of any document  incorporated by reference,  the date of that document.
All subsequent written and oral forward-looking  statements  attributable to the
Partnership  or any person acting on its behalf are qualified by the  cautionary
statements in this report.  The Partnership does not undertake any obligation to
update or publicly  release  any  revisions  to  forward-looking  statements  to
reflect events,  circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this
report.

Business Overview

At  September  30,  2004,  Polaris  Aircraft  Income Fund III  (PAIF-III  or the
Partnership) owned a portfolio of four used McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 commercial
jet  aircraft  (DC-9-30)  out of its original  portfolio  of 38 aircraft.  These
DC-9-30  aircraft  were being  stored in New Mexico and were being  marketed for
sale. On September 20, 2004, the Partnership  entered into a Letter of Intent to
sell its four remaining  aircraft to an  unaffiliated  buyer for a total selling
price of  $800,000.  Upon  completion  of such sale,  the  Partnership  plans to
liquidate all its assets in an orderly  manner,  make a final  distribution  and
terminate  the  Partnership  thereafter;  however,  it is  uncertain  when  this
liquidation will occur.  While there can be no assurance as to either the timing
of such sale or whether such sale may be completed,  the General Partner intends
to seek to complete such sale during fourth quarter of 2004.

Partnership Operations

The Partnership recorded net income of $84,153, or $0.16 per Limited Partnership
Unit,  for the three months ended  September 30, 2004, as compared to a net loss
of $424,398,  or $0.84 per Limited  Partnership Unit, for the three months ended
September 30, 2003. The Partnership recorded a net loss of $29,105, or $0.16 per
Limited Partnership Unit, for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, compared
to a net loss of $291,377,  or $0.98 per Limited  Partnership Unit, for the nine
months ended  September 30, 2003.  Variances in net income may not correspond to
variances in net income per Limited  Partnership  Unit due to the  allocation of
components of income and loss in accordance with the Partnership Agreement.

                                       10



The increase in net income during the three months ended  September 30, 2004 and
the  decrease in net loss for the nine  months  ended  September  30,  2004,  as
compared to the same periods in 2003,  is  primarily  due to the write-up of the
carrying value of aircraft held for sale, an absence of depreciation expense and
management fees to the General Partner, partially offset by an absence of rental
income, along with an increase in operating expenses, as discussed below.

The absence of rental  income from  operating  leases  during the three and nine
months  ended  September  30,  2004,  as compared to  $441,109  and  $1,376,965,
respectively,  in the same  periods in 2003,  is due to all lease  terms  having
expired during 2003.

Interest  income  increased  slightly  during  the three and nine  months  ended
September  30, 2004,  as compared to the same periods in 2003,  primarily due to
the recent increase in interest rates.

During the three and nine months  ended  September  30,  2004,  the  Partnership
recognized  lessee  settlement  income in the  amount of $81,458  and  $163,982,
respectively, as compared to $0 and $76,279, respectively, recognized during the
same  periods in 2003.  The payments  received  during the 2004 and 2003 periods
resulted from distributions by a former lessee's bankrupt estate  representing a
portion  of the  $465,277  administrative  rent  claims  initially  filed by the
Partnership pursuant to the bankruptcy (also see Note 6).

Lessee  return  condition  settlements  were  $44,270  during the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2003, as compared to $0 for the same periods in 2004.
The  return  condition  payment  received  during  the 2003  periods  was for an
aircraft that went off lease on September 15, 2003.

Aircraft  held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value less cost
to sell.   During  the three and nine  months  ended  September  30,  2004,  the
Partnership  recognized  income of $101,800  and  $170,000,  or $0.20 and $0.34,
respectively,  per Limited  Partnership  Unit,  on the  write-up of the carrying
value  of two  of its  aircraft,  which  previously  had  been  reduced  through
additional  depreciation  expense  as the result of past  reviews  of  estimated
market values.  The estimated fair market value of the aircraft held for sale at
September  30, 2004 was based on the  selling  price of the  Partnership's  four
aircraft in the Letter of Intent dated September 20, 2004. The carrying value of
the  Partnership's  two other  aircraft was not  adjusted at September  30, 2004
because  their  cost  basis  determined  at lease  expiration  was less than the
current  estimated  fair market  value.  No  adjustments  to the market value of
aircraft held for sale were made during the same periods in 2003.

The absence of  depreciation  expense and management fees to the General Partner
during the three and nine months ended  September  30, 2004,  as compared to the
same periods in 2003, was due to all lease terms having expired during 2003.

Operating  expenses  increased  during the three and nine months ended September
30, 2004, as compared to the same periods in 2003,  primarily due to maintenance
and storage-related costs associated with the aircraft while they are being held
for sale.  During the three and nine  months  ended  September  30,  2004,  four
aircraft were held in storage, as compared to the same periods in 2003, when one
aircraft was kept in storage.

Administration and other expense decreased during the three months September 30,
2004, as compared to the same period in 2003,  primarily due to decreased  legal
fees  related to various SEC and  investor  reporting  matters and  printing and

                                       11



postage expenses. Administration and other expense increased slightly during the
nine months ended September 30, 2004, as compared to the same period in 2003.

Liquidity and Cash Distributions

Liquidity  - No further  rent  payments  were due during the nine  months  ended
September 30, 2004 since all lease terms expired  during 2003.  The  Partnership
received all  payments  due from its sole lessee for the  aircraft  remaining on
lease during the nine months ended September 30, 2003.

PIMC, the General Partner,  has determined that cash reserves be maintained as a
prudent  measure to ensure that the  Partnership has available funds for winding
up the affairs of the Partnership and for other  contingencies.  The Partnership
plans  to  liquidate  all  its  assets  in  an  orderly  manner,  make  a  final
distribution and terminate the Partnership thereafter,  however, it is uncertain
when this liquidation will occur. On September 20, 2004, the Partnership entered
into a Letter of Intent to sell its four remaining  aircraft to an  unaffiliated
buyer for a total selling price of $800,000.  While there can be no assurance as
to either  the timing of such sale or whether  such sale may be  completed,  the
General  Partner  intends to seek to complete such sale during fourth quarter of
2004. 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  - Cash  distributions  to Limited  Partners during the nine
months ended  September  30, 2004 and 2003 were  $499,683,  or $1.00 per Limited
Partnership Unit, and $2,499,120,  or $5.00 per Unit, respectively.  The General
Partner has determined  that it is in the best  interests of the  Partnership to
suspend any further cash distributions until the Partnership is in a position to
dissolve, wind up and terminate,  and make a final distribution of its remaining
cash.  In  reaching  this  conclusion,   the  General  Partner   considered  the
anticipated  costs of storing  and  insuring  the  aircraft  pending  sale,  the
anticipated  costs of  marketing  and  preparing  the  aircraft  for  sale,  the
anticipated costs of winding up the Partnership's  business,  the uncertainty as
to the period of time required to sell the aircraft and wind up the Partnership,
the uncertainty as to the terms on which the Partnership's  aircraft may be sold
and the  desirability  of  maintaining  a  prudent  level of cash  reserves  for
Partnership needs and contingencies.

The  Partnership  does not have any material  off-balance  sheet  commitments or
obligations.

                                       12



Item 4.    Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

PIMC management reviewed the Partnership's  internal controls and procedures and
the effectiveness of these controls.  As of September 30, 2004, PIMC management,
including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial  Officer,  carried out
an  evaluation  of  the  effectiveness  of  the  design  and  operation  of  the
Partnership's disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13a-14(c) and
15d-14(c) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934.  Based upon that  evaluation,
the Chief  Executive  Officer and Chief  Financial  Officer  concluded  that the
Partnership's  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  are  effective  in  timely
alerting them to material information relating to the Partnership required to be
included in its periodic SEC filings.

(b) Change to internal controls

There  was no change  in the  Partnership's  internal  controls  over  financial
reporting  or in other  factors  during  the  Partnership's  last  quarter  that
materially  affected,  or  are  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect,  the
Partnership's  internal  controls  over  financial  reporting.   There  were  no
significant  deficiencies  or material  weaknesses,  and therefore no corrective
actions taken.

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                           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) 2003 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 June 30,  2004,
there are several pending legal  proceedings  involving the  Partnership.  There
have been no material  developments with respect to such proceedings  during the
period  covered by this  report.  However,  the  Partnership  has  received  the
payments described in Note 6 to the Financial Statements.

Other Proceedings - Item 10 in Part III of the Partnership's  2003 Form 10-K and
Item 1 of Part II of the Partnership's  Quarterly Report to the SEC on Form 10-Q
for the period ended June 30, 2004 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

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

              31.1 CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the
                   Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
              31.2 CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the
                   Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
              32.1 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
                   Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
                   of 2002.

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                                    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


November 15, 2004                   By: /s/Stephen E. Yost
- -----------------                       ----------------------
                                        Stephen E. Yost, Chief Financial Officer

                                       15