The Be-12 was first flown on October 18, 1960, at Taganrog airfield, and made its first public appearance at the 1961 Soviet Aviation Day festivities at Tushino airfield.
Be-12 pertama kali terbang pada 18 Oktober 1960 di lapangan udara Taganrog, dan membuat yang pertama penampilan publik pada perayaan Aviation Day Soviet 1961 di lapangan udara Tushino.