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, 1998

                                       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 13 pages.



                                                            

                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

            FORM 10-Q - For the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 1998




                                      INDEX



Part I.       Financial Information                                        Page


         Item 1.    Financial Statements

              a)  Balance Sheets - June 30, 1998 and
                  December 31, 1997...........................................3

              b)  Statements of Operations - Three and Six Months
                  Ended June 30, 1998 and 1997................................4

              c)  Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital
                  (Deficit) - Year Ended December 31, 1997
                  and Six Months Ended June 30, 1998..........................5

              d)  Statements of Cash Flows - Six Months
                  Ended June 30, 1998 and 1997................................6

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

         Item 2.      Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                      Financial Condition and Results of Operations...........9



Part II.      Other Information

         Item 1.      Legal Proceedings......................................11

         Item 6.      Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.......................11

         Signature    .......................................................12


                                        2





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

Item 1.  Financial Statements

                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                                 BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (Unaudited)

                                                       June 30,     December 31,
                                                         1998           1997
                                                         ----           ----
                                                             
ASSETS:

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                           $ 13,838,513   $ 28,632,488

RENT AND OTHER RECEIVABLES                               851,008        850,760

AIRCRAFT, net of accumulated depreciation
    of $55,233,525 in 1998 and $53,612,863 in 1997    26,951,052     28,571,714
                                                    ------------   ------------
                                                    $ 41,640,573   $ 58,054,962
                                                    ============   ============

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL (DEFICIT):

PAYABLE TO AFFILIATES                               $    166,329   $    123,242

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED
    LIABILITIES                                          103,380         80,211

DEFERRED INCOME                                        1,231,894        626,578

NOTES PAYABLE                                          9,474,984     11,080,004
                                                    ------------   ------------
         Total Liabilities                            10,976,587     11,910,035
                                                    ------------   ------------

PARTNERS' CAPITAL (DEFICIT):
    General Partner                                   (4,187,247)    (2,854,104)
    Limited Partners, 499,960 and 500,000 units
      outstanding in 1998 and 1997, respectively      34,851,233     48,999,031
                                                    ------------   ------------
         Total Partners' Capital                      30,663,986     46,144,927
                                                    ------------   ------------
                                                    $ 41,640,573   $ 58,054,962
                                                    ============   ============


        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

                                        3


                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)



                                           Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended
                                                 June 30,                 June 30,
                                                 --------                 --------
                                              1998        1997        1998        1997
                                              ----        ----        ----        ----
                                                                  
REVENUES:
   Rent from operating leases             $2,247,342  $3,564,009  $4,494,684  $7,470,933
   Interest                                  183,246     286,058     480,992     534,744
   Gain on sale of aircraft inventory         52,447     211,310     141,981     296,247
   Other                                        --       763,995        --       785,094
                                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
           Total Revenues                  2,483,035   4,825,372   5,117,657   9,087,018
                                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
EXPENSES:
   Depreciation                              602,854   2,406,350   1,620,662   5,479,823
   Management fees to general partner         86,786     112,367     173,573     307,713
   Interest                                  237,138     312,125     493,286     634,681
   Operating                                  18,724       8,911      55,444      13,785
   Administration and other                  100,268     116,651     197,602     196,658
                                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
           Total Expenses                  1,045,770   2,956,404   2,540,567   6,632,660
                                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
NET INCOME                                $1,437,265  $1,868,968  $2,577,090  $2,454,358
                                          ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
NET INCOME ALLOCATED TO
   THE GENERAL PARTNER                    $  154,627  $  331,158  $  472,268  $  649,481
                                          ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
NET INCOME ALLOCATED
   TO LIMITED PARTNERS                    $1,282,638  $1,537,810  $2,104,822  $1,804,877
                                          ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
NET INCOME PER LIMITED
   PARTNERSHIP UNIT                       $     2.57  $     3.08  $     4.21  $     3.61
                                          ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========


         The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements

                                        4


                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

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


                                        Year Ended December 31, 1997 and
                                         Six Months Ended June 30, 1998
                                         ------------------------------

                                      General       Limited
                                      Partner       Partners        Total
                                      -------       --------        -----
                                                       
Balance, December 31, 1996         $(1,670,662)  $ 55,159,826   $ 53,489,164

   Net income                           49,891      4,939,205      4,989,096
                                   
   Cash distributions to partners   (1,233,333)   (11,100,000)   (12,333,333)
                                   -----------   ------------   ------------
Balance, December 31, 1997          (2,854,104)    48,999,031     46,144,927

   Net income                          472,268      2,104,822      2,577,090

   Capital redemptions (40 units)         --           (3,920)        (3,920)

   Cash distributions to partners   (1,805,411)   (16,248,700)   (18,054,111)
                                   -----------   ------------   ------------
Balance, June 30, 1998             $(4,187,247)  $ 34,851,233   $ 30,663,986
                                   ===========   ============   ============





         The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements

                                        5


                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)

                                                           Six Months Ended June 30,
                                                           -------------------------
                                                              1998           1997
                                                              ----           ----
                                                                  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
     Net income                                          $  2,577,090   $  2,454,358
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to
       net cash provided by operating activities:
       Gain on sale of aircraft inventory                    (141,981)      (296,247)
       Depreciation                                         1,620,662      5,479,823
       Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
          Increase in rent and other receivables                 (248)      (498,866)
          Decrease in prepaid fees                               --          104,275
          Increase in payable to affiliates                    43,087         78,265
          Increase in accounts payable
              and accrued liabilities                          23,169        102,439
          Increase (decrease) in deferred income              605,316       (438,818)
                                                         ------------   ------------
              Net cash provided by operating activities     4,727,095      6,985,229
                                                         ------------   ------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
     Net proceeds from sale of aircraft inventory             141,981        296,247
     Proceeds from sale of aircraft                              --        1,491,329
     Payments to Purchaser related to sale of aircraft           --       (1,341,968)
     Principal payments on notes receivable                      --          185,013
                                                         ------------   ------------
              Net cash provided by investing activities       141,981        630,621
                                                         ------------   ------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
     Principal payments on notes payable                   (1,605,020)      (296,446)
     Capital redemptions                                       (3,920)          --
     Cash distributions to partners                       (18,054,111)    (6,944,444)
                                                         ------------   ------------
              Net cash used in financing activities       (19,663,051)    (7,240,890)
                                                         ------------   ------------
CHANGES IN CASH AND CASH
     EQUIVALENTS                                          (14,793,975)       374,960

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
     BEGINNING OF PERIOD                                   28,632,488     20,229,105
                                                         ------------   ------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
     END OF PERIOD                                       $ 13,838,513   $ 20,604,065
                                                         ============   ============
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
     Interest paid                                       $    494,980   $    531,475
                                                         ============   ============

         The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements

                                        6


                                                    
                        POLARIS AIRCRAFT INCOME FUND III,
                        A California Limited Partnership

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (Unaudited)



1.      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   Polaris  Aircraft  Income  Fund  III's  (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 and  do not include all
of  the  information  and   note  disclosures  required  by  generally  accepted
accounting  principles  (GAAP).  These statements  should be read in conjunction
with the  financial statements  and notes  thereto for the years ended  December
31,  1997,  1996,  and 1995 included in the Partnership's  1997 Annual Report to
the SEC on Form 10-K.


2.      Related Parties

Under  the Limited  Partnership  Agreement,  the  Partnership  paid or agreed to
pay  the  following  amounts  for the  curren  quarter  to the general  partner,
Polaris   Investment  Management  Corporation,   in  connection   with  services
rendered or payments made on behalf of the Partnership:

                                         Payments for
                                      Three Months Ended         Payable at
                                         June 30, 1998          June 30, 1998
                                         -------------          -------------
Aircraft Management Fees                  $    75,000            $    81,103

Out-of-Pocket Administrative and
    Selling Expense Reimbursement             133,247                 83,703

Out-of-Pocket Operating and
    Remarketing Expense Reimbursement          11,882                  1,523
                                          -----------            -----------
                                          $   220,129            $   166,329
                                          ===========            ===========

3.      Partners' Capital

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.



                                       7




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.









                                       8




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

At June 30,  1998,  Polaris  Aircraft  Income Fund III (the  Partnership)  owned
a  portfolio of 10  used  McDonnell  Douglas  DC-9-30  aircraft  leased to Trans
World  Airlines,  Inc. (TWA) and certain  inventoried  aircraft parts out of its
original portfolio of 38 aircraft.  The Partnership transferred  three McDonnell
Douglas DC-9-10  aircraft and six Boeing 727-100 aircraft to aircraft  inventory
in 1992.  The  inventoried  aircraft  have been  disassembled  for sale of their
component parts.

In August 1998, the  Partnership  entered into an  agreement for the sale of its
remaining  inventory of aircraft parts, with  a net  carrying  value of $0, from
the nine  disassembled  aircraft  to  Soundair,  Inc.  The  remaining  inventory
was  sold  effective  February  1, 1998  for $100,000,  less amounts  previously
received for sales in the month of February of  $11,404.  The net purchase price
will be paid in four monthly installments commencing in August.


Partnership Operations

The  Partnership  recorded  net income  of  $1,437,265,  or  $2.57  per  limited
partnership unit, for the three months ended June 30,  1998,  as compared to net
income of  $1,868,968,  or $3.08 per limited  partnership  unit,  for the  three
months ended June 30, 1997.  The  Partnership  recorded net income of $2,577,090
or $4.21 per limited  partnership  unit, for the six months  ended June 30, 1998
compared to net income of  $2,454,358,  or $3.61 per limited  partnership  unit,
for the six months ended June 30, 1997.

Rental  revenues,  management  fees and  depreciation decreased during the three
and six months ended June 30,  1998,  as compared  to  the same periods in 1997,
primarily due to the sale of  aircraft  to  Triton  Aviation  Services  III  LLC
(Triton) in 1997.

The  Partnership  recorded other  income of $785,094 during the six months ended
June 30,  1997.  This other  income was primarily  the result of  the receipt of
$743,476  during the second quarter of 1997 related to amounts due under the TWA
maintenance credit and rent deferral agreement.

Interest  income decreased  during the three and six months ended June 30, 1998,
as compared to the same periods in 1997, due to  the payoff of notes  receivable
from Continental Airlines, Inc. and Triton during 1997.

Interest expense decreased  during the three and six months ended June 30, 1998,
as compared to the same periods in 1997,due to the continuing principal payments
on the TWA hushkit notes payable.

Operating expenses increased during the three and six months ended June 30, 1998
as compared to the  same periods in 1997, due to an  increase in  legal expenses
related to the sale of the remaining aircraft.

The increase in the deferred income balance at June 30, 1998 is  attributable to
differences  between the payments due and the  rental  income  earned on the TWA
leases  for the 10  aircraft  currently  on lease to TWA. For income recognition
purposes,  the Partnership  recognizes  rental income over the life of the lease
in  equal monthly amounts.  As a result, the difference  between  rental  income
earned and the rental  payments  due is  recognized  as  deferred  income.   The
rental payments due from TWA during the three and six months ended June 30, 1998
exceeded  the rental  income  earned on the TWA leases, causing  an  increase in
the deferred income balance.



                                       9




Liquidity and Cash Distributions

Liquidity  - The  Partnership received all lease  payments from its sole lessee,
TWA, except for the June 1998 lease payment.  On July 2, 1998,  the  Partnership
received its $850,000 rental payment from TWA that was due on June 27,1998. This
amount was  included in rent and other receivables  on the balance sheet at June
30, 1998.  In  addition, payments totaling $141,981 have  been  received  during
the first six months of 1998 from the sale of  parts  from the nine disassembled
aircraft, as compared to payments of $296,247 during the same period in 1997.

Polaris  Investment Management Corporation, the general  partner, has determined
that the Partnership  maintain cash reserves 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 - Cash  distributions  to limited  partners during the three
months ended June 30,  1998  and 1997  were $1,449,884,  or  $2.90  per  limited
partnership  unit,  and  $3,125,000,  or  $6.25  per  limited  partnership unit,
respectively. Cash distributions to limited partners during the six months ended
June 30,  1998  and  1997  were $16,248,700,  or $32.50 per limited  partnership
unit,  and  $6,250,000,  or $12.50 per limited  partnership  unit, respectively.
The increase, as compared to 1997, is due to the  distribution  of the  proceeds
received  from the  prepayment  of a note due from Triton Aviation  Services III
LLC on December 30, 1997.  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)  and  need to  retain cash  reserves as
previously  discussed  in  the  Liquidity  section; and  the  receipt  of rental
payments from TWA.




                                       10




                           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)  1997  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,  1998,  there are a number of  pending  legal  actions  or proceedings
involving the  Partnership.  Except  as described  below,  there  have  been  no
material  developments with  respect to any  such actions or  proceedings during
the period covered by this report.

Ron  Wallace  v.  Polaris  Investment Management Corporation,  et al. - On April
23,  1998,  the Court  consolidated for discovery  purposes this action with the
action  entitled  "Accelerated" High Yield Income Fund II, Ltd., L.P. v. Polaris
Investment Management  Corporation,  et. al. On July 9, 1998,  the Court  denied
the defendants' demurrer to dismiss the plaintiffs' second amended complaint. On
July 28, 1998, defendants filed an answer to the second amended complaint.

Other Proceedings - Item 10 in  Part III of the Partnership's 1997 Form 10-K and
Item 1 in Part II of the  Partnership's Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31,
1998 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)

     27.  Financial Data Schedule (in electronic format only).

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.





                                       11




                                    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 12, 1998                 By: /S/Marc A. Meiches        
- -------------------------                ----------------------
                                           Marc A. Meiches
                                           Chief Financial Officer
                                           (principal financial officer and
                                           principal accounting officer of
                                           Polaris Investment Management
                                           Corporation, General Partner of
                                           the Registrant)








                                       12