You fellows understand that it kind of makes me shudder when we talk about weeping wings. Not because of the issue, but because it makes fodder for 3rd parties over blowing the issue with the Aerostar. "Weeping wings" have been the supposed nemesis of Mooneys "forever". I say "supposed" because the issue was not that the Mooney's leaks could not be fixed, it was that owners kept trying to side step the issue with cheap remedies.
I have replaced bladders in Beechcraft airplanes and repaired tank leaks in a Bravo and Aerostar. If you look at the relative costs of each in the long run, there isn't much difference. Bladders on a Baron are a bitch and there is nothing inexpensive about the fix. A complete reseal of a wet wing on a Mooney or Aerostar is pretty much the financial equivalent. IN MY EXPERIENCE.
Your comments about over filling and letting an A* sit outside with full tanks are correct but just as correct for any wet wing aircraft. It applies to bladders as well. Any tank filled to capacity will be subject to the expansion of warming fuel and can be damaged; bladders included. I will add that I have fixed one leak on the Aerostar and it was in the absolute most inaccessible point of the structure. If memory serves me correctly, it was less than $600.
My point is that it is simply a maintenance item: not an "issue" with the airplane.
There is a positive side to the "art" of filling the Aerostar's wet wings: it makes YOU, the pilot, have to monitor the procedure which should be the case with every airplane anyway. Don't let anyone ever fuel your airplane without your being present.
I too love the A* and that is coming from someone who is simply not a "brand loyal" person. It will do what no other airplane in its class will do and do it better. Unfortunately, I have gotten to the point that I have almost zero use for it. I mostly fly it on Sundays shooting approaches and use the Cessna 180 for most of my needs. That being said, I will likely not sell it. It's not worth the trouble of dealing with the airplane talkers and wannabes that pretty much make up the twin buyers market these days.
And when I do want to go somewhere, I go fast.
And for anyone interested in an Aerostar, please don't ask me to call. I do not want to "talk airplanes", I have better and more interesting things to do. Post your questions here and a plethora of experienced owners, including me, will be happy to answer: to a point. What airplane fits your "needs" is none of my concern or interest.
Not meaning to be rude, it's jus that the same old "squit" gets old.
Jgreen