If you are doing controller-based deployments, you can put 10 mesh points on a portal (just understand the bandwidth 'costs' and design limitations. If you are using instant, you are more limited (2 hops and up to 8 mesh points).
None of Aruba's 11ac Instant APs can act as 'WiFi Extenders'. You can look at the HP 501 to fill that need if that works for you.